Cletus Holzer

Cletus Holzer, 88, of Versailles passed away Friday, June 6, 2008 at the Manderley Health Care Center in Osgood. He was born at Billings, Montana on January 24, 1920 the son of John E. and Lorean Jackson Holzer. He was married to Rosella Meister on May 25, 1940 and she survives. Other survivors include three sons, John (Carol) Holzer of Versailles, Cletus, Jr. (Kathi) of Trion, Georgia, and Mark (Janet) Holzer of Kernersville, North Carolina; four daughters, Marie (Don) Strobel of Franklin, Joan (Leon) Sarringhaus of Hollister, California, Patricia (Ray) Durlacher of Jacksonville, Florida, and Aletha (Owen, Jr.) Heaton of Cross Plains; 26 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren; one sister, Rita (Bob) Cline of Madison. He was preceded in death by his parents, and an infant son Lawrence. Mr. Holzer was a 1938 graduate of New Marion High School. He served in the Navy during WWII and after returning from the service operated a general store with his father in New Marion and later in Versailles. He also owned and operated the Court House Inn in Versailles for several years. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church in Osgood and was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus at Monsignor Brute Council 246 in Lawrenceburg. He was also a member of the Ripley County Voiture 40 & 8, a fifty year member of the Versailles American Legion, and a former member of the Versailles Fire Department. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, June 10 at 10am at St. John's Catholic Church in Osgood with Father Rob Hankee officiating. Burial will be in the Cliff Hill Cemetery in Versailles with military graveside rites by the Versailles American Legion. Visitation will be Monday from 4pm to 8pm at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles with Rosary services at 8pm. Memorials may be given to the School of Gibault or the Cliff Hill Cemetery in care of the funeral home.