Roger Holaday

Funeral Services: Will be held on Monday, September 28, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the Massena Baptist Church in Massena. Private family burial will take place prior to services. Pastor Bruce Morrow will officiate the service.   

Open Visitation: Will be held on Sunday, September 27th, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena. 

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Sunday, September 27th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Massena. 

Memorials: To the Roger Holaday memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date. 

Roger William Holaday, son of William Roy and Margaret Elizabeth (Jensen) Holaday was born on July 11, 1937, at the Atlantic Hospital. Roger went to be with Lord on Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at his home in Massena, Iowa, at the age of 78.

Roger grew up on the family farm west of Massena. He attended school through the 8th grade at Crossroads Country School west of his home, where his mother was also his teacher. Roger graduated from Massena High School in 1955. He pitched his team to the State Baseball Tournament. He graduated from Omaha Baptist Bible Institute in 1958. Roger married Betty Maxine Lewis on June 10, 1960, at the First Baptist Church in Ayrshire, Iowa. To this union four children were born: Cynthia, Lynnette, Scott and Bill.

Roger spent his working years in many professions. He did carpentry work with his dad. He began his grave digging career in 1963 and continued until 2010 when his heath forced him to completely turn the business over to his son, Scott. Roger was engaged in farming throughout his adult life. He milked cows, farmed 750 acres with a 4 row planter and a three bottom plow, raised chickens, cattle and hogs. Roger moved to town and continued to farm while working at Johnson Sinclair. At the age of 65, he began his career as a janitor at the Cumberland-Massena Community School, where he worked until his health forced him to retire. In all his endeavors, he modeled Colossians 3:23 - “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man.”

Roger served his church and community in many ways. Roger accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior at a young age. He was a member of the Massena Baptist Church, where he served as a Youth Leader, a Deacon, an Awana Leader and Sunday School Teacher. He was a member of the Massena Lion’s Club. As a member of the Massena Fire Department, he was one of the first to take EMT training in Iowa. He served as a Fire Fighter & EMT for many years.

Roger was an amazing family man. When he finished farm work early, he loaded the family up and went to Cold Springs State Park. When he wanted to have company over, he did the vacuuming. He always thanked Betty for the meal that she had prepared and served. You seldom saw Roger sitting alone. If there was a baby anywhere close by, he was holding him/her. He took care of his parents in their later years. In his leisure time, Roger took his grandchildren fishing or target shooting. He loved the outdoors and hunting, fishing and trapping. Roger collected guns and enjoyed sharing his love of firearms with his family.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, William and Margaret Holaday; his sister, Carolyn Marlowe; brother-in-laws Gaylord Lewis and Elmer Williams; and sister-in-laws Joanne Lewis, Norma Hanson and Joy Williams. Left to honor his memory are his wife Betty; children Cynthia Holaday of Omaha, Nebraska, Lynnette Little and her husband, Craig of Panora, Iowa, Scott Holaday and his wife, Miriam of Massena, Iowa, Bill Holaday and his wife, Shauna of Massena, Iowa; grandchildren Chris, Cameron & Clayton Little, Brooke (Austin) Karas, Daniel, Justin (Nyx), Andrew, Katlyn, Dakota & Whitney Holaday; and great grandchildren Aubrey & Aaron Karas.