Eldon Leroy Holle

Eldon Leroy Holle was born in Ellsworth County, Kansas, on May 28, 1933, and adopted as an infant to William and Clara Stelling Holle. He was baptized on June 18, 1933, and confirmed March 30, 1947, in Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Sylvan Grove, Kansas. He peacefully passed on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at the age of 91 years, 8 months, and 22 days. He was drafted into the Navy in 1955, spending most of his time on the west coast of North America. He was honorably discharged in 1957. Eldon was united in marriage on April 8, 1962, to Edra Carol Horn at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Glasco, Kansas. They were married for 62 years. They lived in Salina, Kansas, and were charter members of Christ the King Lutheran Church. In 1969, they moved to Wichita, Kansas, and at the time of his passing, he was a member of Ascension Lutheran Church for many years. In 1980 he was reunited with his birth father and mother, Cecil and Mildred Bender Grubb of Ellsworth, Kansas and his two sisters, and was welcomed into their families. During and after high school, Eldon worked for several farmers doing farm work and running heavy equipment in construction work. After leaving the Navy, Eldon worked for Sellers Tractor Company in Salina and in Wichita for Sellers Equipment Company for nearly 41 years in the construction machinery service department. He was Service Manager in Wichita for 29 years of that time. He spent many years at Ascension Lutheran Church on the Commission of Properties and as a volunteer at both the Tyler and Maple Campuses, keeping the grounds maintained, and inside wherever needed. He enjoyed yard work, and helping neighbors and friends. Since retirement Eldon and Edra enjoyed many bus and travel trips in the U.S. and have visited Hawaii, Alaska, Australia and New Zealand. He especially enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Preceding him in death are his adoptive parents, William and Clara Holle; his birth parents, Cecil and Mildred Grubb; and one adoptive sister, Daralene Thomas. Surviving to mourn his death are his wife, Edra; son, Earl Wayne Holle and wife Lori of Houston, Texas; daughter, Evelyn Ruth Thurston and husband, Phillip of Wichita; six grandchildren, Brandon (Jamie) Holle, Kristin (Thes) Kascsak, Amber (Cole) Schechter, Jared (Courtny) Thurston, Derek Thurston and Alicia Thurston; four great grandchildren, Adalynn and Edward Thurston, Aiden Kascsak and Caleb Holle; brother, Ervin (Karen) Holle; sisters, Virginia (Charles) Dolezal and Jane Kohls and their families. Visitation without the family present will be 4:00 pm - 9:00pm, Sunday, March 2, 2025, at Downing & Lahey West Mortuary, 10515 W. Maple, Wichita, KS 67209. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Monday, March 3, 2025, at Ascension Lutheran Church - 842 N. Tyler Road, Wichita, Kansas, with viewing from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Interment will be at Glasco City Cemetery, Glasco, Kansas. Memorials have been established with Ascension Lutheran Church, 842 N. Tyler Road, Wichita, KS 67212 or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67202. Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.