Louise Ethel Holm

Louise Ethel Holm nee Doebel was born in Chicago on April 10, 1927, the first child of Paul and
Margaret Louise (Ritt) Doebel. Three and a half years later, she and her younger brother,
Paul Jr. lost their mother to tuberculosis. Their father married Ruth Craig several years later.
After high school, Louise first worked at Wieboldt’s department store. She later worked at
Commonwealth Edison, where her father also worked.
In 1938, Herman Holm moved to Chicago from his family’s farm in northwestern Minnesota.
He lived in a boarding house next door to the Doebel home. Louise and Herman began
dating around 1944 and got engaged in January 1948. They were married in Chicago on
October 23, 1948. Louise was not feeling well the day before they got married and had a
terrible headache on the day of their wedding. Several days later a doctor confirmed that she
had polio and sent her to the Contagious Disease Hospital in Chicago. She made a nearly full
recovery, but her left hand was always weaker after that.
Louise and Herman had six children from 1949 to 1966: Melvin, Robert, Janet, Christine,
Elaine and Jon. Louise was a housewife who loved spending time with her kids, whether
playing cards and board games with them as kids, traveling to visit them as they grew up and
left home, or taking trips with them. She also slipped easily into the role of “Grandma” for
her eight grandchildren.
Louise enjoyed being with friends and family. She remained close to several of her high
school friends over the years but also made new friends easily. She enjoyed her time with
her brother, Paul, and his family. She fit easily into the Holm family and enjoyed summer
visits in Minnesota with her in-laws.
Louise was creative. In earlier years she knit sweaters, crocheted afghans, and made clothes.
Later she made netting table-top Christmas trees for her friends. Several years later she and
Janet started making Christmas ornaments from Lee Wards kits. Most recently, she learned
to do ceramics. Once she felt comfortable with the process, she bought her own kiln and
made many pieces for family and friends.
In October 1998, Herman and Louise celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Sadly,
Herman passed away 19 days before their 51st anniversary. In 2000, Louise began spending
summers at the Holm farmhouse in Minnesota, which their oldest son had purchased. She
had a wonderful time with her in-laws. They introduced her to a PBS concert by Irish
country singer, Daniel O’Donnell. Louise was an instant fan and attended his concerts in
person wherever she could, including in Branson, Grand Forks, Milwaukee, Chicago, etc.,
and on cruises. She attended her last concert in Indiana in October 2022.
Louise is survived by her children and their spouses, Melvin (Mitch Marks), Robert, Janet
(Bernie Bouman), Christine (Mike Collins), Elaine (Greg Johnson), and Jon (Julie); her eight
grandchildren, Peter Bouman, Cheryl Bouman, Matthew (Brandalyn) Mitchell, Melissa (Damian Walsh), Stephanie (Chris
Wood), Eric (Dora) Johnson, Kyle Holm and Kevin Holm; her four great-grandchildren,
William Walsh, and Paisley, Aurora, and Atlas Mitchell; her sisters-in-law, Inez (Wayne)

Anderson and Garnett (Wallace) Holm; and her brothers-in-law, Morris (Maxine) Holm and
Harris (Marlys) Selvig.
Louise was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Margaret Doebel; her stepmother, Ruth
Doebel; her brother, Paul Doebel Jr.; her husband, Herman Holm; her parents-in-law, Palmer and
Inga Holm; her brothers- and sisters-in-law, Patricia (Paul) Doebel, Irwin and Gladys Holm,
Myrtle and Julius Ramstad, Kenneth and Margaret Holm, Wallace Holm, Irene and Walter
Stigen, Eunice and Donald Wang, Eugene and Sylvia Holm, Wayne (Inez) Anderson, Maxine
(Morris) Holm and Marlys (Harris) Selvig.

Visitation at the Suerth Funeral Home, 6754 N. Northwest Highway, Chicago, IL 60631 on Sunday,
October 1, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Funeral Service and Interment will take place at
Augustana Lutheran Church, Halstad, Minnesota uvparish.org on October 7, 2023,

Visitation 10:00 a.m. until the time of service 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital at stjude.org

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