Lavern “Vern” G. Holtgrave, 80, of Breese, died on Monday, May 8, 2023, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon.
Visitation will be held Friday, May 12, from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Saturday, May 13, from 8 to 9:45 a.m. at Nordike Funeral Home in Breese. A memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at the funeral home with Deacon Linus Kostermann officiating. Burial will follow at St. Dominic/St. Augustine Cemetery in Breese.
Mr. Holtgrave was born on October 18, 1942 to the late Alphonse and Clara (Hollenkamp) Holtgrave. He married Margaret “Peggy” Brassel on April 18, 1964, and she preceded him in death.
He played professional baseball with the Detroit Tigers organization for six years, until an arm injury ended his professional baseball career. He made one appearance in a Major League game, long enough for a “cup of coffee,” as he would say, but enjoyed a successful minor-league career with a 3.30 ERA and made many lifelong friends in baseball. After baseball, he had successful careers in sales, truck-driving and as a security guard at Kaskaskia College.
Mr. Holtgrave served on the Clinton County Board for 20 years, from Dec. 1, 1998, to Nov. 30, 2018. He took great pride in working for his constituents and serving as their voice in county government.
Mr. Holtgrave was very outgoing and enjoyed golfing, especially his Tuesday golf games, playing cards, listening to live music and dancing. He enjoyed sharing jokes and making people laugh. He did not know a stranger and always had a smile on his face. But what he adored most was spending time with his family. He was so loved and will be greatly missed..
Mr. Holtgrave is survived by his children, Cori Brueggemann (Brian) of Breese and Staci Mollett (Duane) of Coffeen; his grandchildren, Maggie Brueggemann, Anna Freeman (Kate), Tyler Cooper (Jamie), Colby Cooper (Tara) and Kerriann Reeder (Nick); great-grandchildren, Jase, Mason, Maebry, Brecklyn and Dax Cooper, and Lilly and Cooper Reeder; his siblings, Marilyn Fitzgerald, Robert Holtgrave, and Lou Jansen; and sister-in-law, Colleen Vaughn. He is also survived by his companion, Elaine Holtgrave, many nieces, nephews, cousins and many great friends.
In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by twin brothers, Alphons and Arthur in infancy; sister, Joan Lehrter; in-laws, Hildegard (Orf) and Sonny Brassel, Betty Holtgrave, Dan Jansen, Luke and Jean Brassel, Kenneth “Butch” and Laura Kellermann, Danny and Rose Brassel, George and Sandra Kreiter and William Vaughn.
Memorials may be made to the Montgomery County Breast Cancer Association and will be received at the funeral home.
