Herbert Osterholz

Herbert “Herb” Osterholz, 95, of Belmont, WI, passed away on Monday, June 1, 2015. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 5, 2015 at Peace Lutheran Church, Belmont, WI. Rev. Connie Matye will officiate. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Platteville, where military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #42 and VFW Post #5274. Friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 4, 2015 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, or from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Friday at the church. The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family. Memorials may be made to the Herbert “Herb” Osterholz Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Herb, son of Mandy and Lanie (Kramer) Osterholz, was born on December 21, 1919 in Platteville, Wisconsin. Herb was united in marriage to Genevieve Lee on May 23, 1947. Herb attended Platteville schools and graduated from Platteville High School in 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and was assigned to the 103rd Quartermaster Corp. He was stationed in northern Africa, Sicily, and Italy during WWII. He earned the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, one Service Stripe, five Service Bars, the American Theater Ribbon, and the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Battle Stars. Herb was a lifelong member and the last of eight founding members of Platteville VFW Post #5274. Prior to entering the Army, Herb worked at the Platteville Chickerees. After serving his country, he and Gen farmed in the Union/Platteville area for 12 years. He also worked at the Platteville Locker Plant for three of those years. Herb farmed in the Belmont area from 1958 until 1960, at which time the family moved to Belmont. Herb worked at Knebel's Processing Plant from 1958 until the time of his retirement in 1981. He was very proud of his family and loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed dancing, gardening, doing word search puzzles, and reading; where he devoted one hour each day to reading the Bible.

Herb is survived by two sons, Larry Osterholz of Rensselaer, IN; Gene (Barb) Osterholz of East Dubuque, IL; three daughters, Bonnie (friend, Dennis Deiter) Langkamp of Tennyson, WI; Peggy (Michael) Klein and Mary (Brad) Bockhop, both of Belmont; 13 grandchildren, Christopher (Theresa) Langkamp of Sun Prairie; Michael (Maggie) Langkamp of Benton; Emily (Joe) Goken of Winnebago, IL; Katherine Osterholz of Chicago, IL; William Osterholz of Ames, IA; Anne Osterholz of East Dubuque; Zachary Osterholz of East Dubuque; Kelsie (Joel) Geissbuhler of Mt. Horeb, WI; Ryan (Emily) Klein of Lake Mills; Kyle Klein of Mt. Horeb; Daniel Klein of Belmont; Matthew Bockhop of Belmont; Molly Bockhop of Belmont; seven great-grandchildren, Genevieve “Genna” and Isabell Langkamp; Hallie Klein; Henley Geissbuhler; Henry and Margaret “Greta” Goken; and Evelyn Klein; three step-great-grandchildren, Taylor, Danielle, and Keithen Andaverde; sisters-in-law, Ada Osterholz; Ruth Osterholz; Jeanette Sherwin; Lorraine Lee; Judy Mehren; Nancy Ziegenfuss; Joan Schwenn; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Genevieve; son, Jackie Ray; great-grandson, Gabriel Goken; brothers, Donald, Robert, Charles, Harold, and Richard; and sisters, Bernice Sheldon and Betty Christensen.