Kevin M Holtz

Kevin Maynard Holtz of Sheldon, Iowa, and formerly of Everly, was born in the middle of a snowy night on October 1, 1961 at the Dickinson County Memorial Hospital in Spirit Lake, Iowa to Maynard and Leona (Schmeling) Holtz. He was welcomed home by brother David and his sisters Beverly and Vivian. He was baptized on October 29, 1961, at Immanual Lutheran Church in Terril, Iowa and confirmed in 1976 at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly, Iowa.

Kevin graduated from Everly Community School in 1980 and enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1982. During his twenty years of service in the Navy, he was stationed all over the United States: FL, VA, LA, MI, ND, MA, and NE. He worked on the USS Fortify as a minesweeper, and also as a purchasing agent, storekeeper, stock control clerk and supervisor at other locations. His two daughters, Amanda Jade and Kelsey Bay, were born in 1986 and 1990, respectively.

Following his honorable discharge in 2002, he moved to Papillion, NE and worked as an ink mixer for the Sun Chemical Corporation. He moved to Sheldon in October of 2017 and was employed at Rosenboom Machine and Tool Inc. until he took early retirement due to health reasons. He began chemotherapy and radiation in Sioux Falls and Worthington after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in May of 2023. On May 13, 2026, he was admitted to the Sanford and later Encompass Hospitals in Sioux Falls and then transported to Sanford Hospital in Sheldon on Friday, June 12 where he peacefully passed away on June 13.

Kevin was an avid fan of the Syracuse Orange men’s basketball team and his favorite NASCAR racers, Rusty Wallace and Ryan Newman. He attended races in Kansas City, Darlington, and the Iowa Speedway. If he wasn’t watching races, he took to the roads running 5ks (Dam to Dam once, Market to Marker Relay, and Warrior Dash with Viv, of wearing a tutu for the Color Run with Amanda) or pedaling his bike for the BRR (24-mile road trip Bike Ride to Rippey), BACoon Ride from Waukee to Perry, and even the first day of RAGBRAI twice.

Whether fishing from the shore, dock, trestle, ice, or Jones pasture, Kevin looked forward to catching the limit with his “guide” David. If it was too cold to fish or bike, he’d be watching his favorite TV series, MASH, or the Shawshank Redemption movie, or listening to music by Dire Straits and Talking Heads. What he enjoyed most was spending time with his family and cousins at the Schmeling Reunion.

He supported the “Out of the Darkness” walks and was a member of the American Legion.

Kevin is survived by his daughters Amanda (Duane) Larson and grandchildren BayLee, Emmett, Emilee, and Paden of Bison, SD and Kelsey Holtz and grandson Connor of Dickens, IA; his mother Leona Holtz of Everly and siblings Beverly (Ross) Rinehart and families and brother David Holtz and family of Des Moines.

He is preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents, his father Maynard Holtz, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Kevin’s quiet sense of humor and comments during the NCAA tournaments will be remembered and greatly missed. Go “Cuse!

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Kevin’s name, the American Cancer Society, American Foundation for Suicide Preventions, or Everly Legion Post 414.