Earl Alvin von Holt

Earl Alvin von Holt died on Monday, September 19, 2022 at Mayo Clinic Health System - St. Marys Campus in Rochester a few minutes before he and Audrey would have celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary.

Memorial service will be held at 11am, Thursday, October 6, 2022 at Grace Lutheran Church in Mankato with visitation two hours prior. Burial will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis at 10:30am, Tuesday, October 18, 2022. Earl’s memorial service will be livestreamed at www.mankatomortuary.com.

Memorials are preferred to Grace Lutheran Church, the American Legion, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

He was born on August 24, 1935 in Luverne, MN. His parents were the late August von Holt and Elizabeth Beine von Holt, both of whom immigrated to the USA from Germany in their teens.

Earl grew up on a farm near Magnolia, MN and attended Magnolia Public School where he was a starter on the Magnolia Bulldogs basketball team in grades 8-12. He graduated in 1953 and spent the following two years helping his dad and brother, Ray, on the farm. In 1955, he enlisted in the Air Force and served in the Strategic Air Command for four years as an electronic technician on B47 bombers. He was discharged in August 1959. On September 20, 1959, Earl married Audrey Strassburg, and they began their new life in Minneapolis, MN. Earl worked for Thomas A. Edison Industries using his USAF training. The company became Wahl & Wahl and eventually Lanier Voicewriter. Earl and Audrey were blessed with a daughter, Lisa, and son, Eric. In 1981, he was transferred to a one-man office in Mankato where he continued dictation sales and service for south central Minnesota until he retired to enjoy his flower and vegetable gardens, his yard, and deck. He also enjoyed several part-time jobs and worked at Wis-Pac for several years.

Earl and Audrey started Volksmarching, non-competitive 10K walks, in 1984, becoming leaders of the Riverbend Striders in Mankato, and enjoyed twenty years of organizing area events and walking throughout the United States. They also enjoyed meeting International Students as part of the Friendship Family program at MSU. In 1991, Rizwan “Raz” Shah became a wonderful “second son.” Raz married Amy and was blessed with two sons, and later, Raz’s brother joined their international family. Earl has been an active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Mankato and the North Mankato American Legion Post 518.

Earl is survived by his wife, Audrey; daughter, Lisa; son, Eric; International family, Raz, Amy, Zain, Amaan, and Farhan; sister and brother-in-law, Avis and Robert Fick; and sister-in-law, Virginia von Holt. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ruby; and brothers, Raymond and Lester.

Earl was a good friend and a quiet man who was proud of his German heritage and his service in the USAF. We will miss him.

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes.
Unforeseen technical, internet, facility, and/or acoustical circumstances may produce a diminished end product.
Please note, if the live stream does not appear, we are attempting to record and publish the service for later viewing.