Obituary: Charles “Chuck” Herbert Holtz

December 2, 1940 ~ February 24, 2023

Charles “Chuck” Herbert Holtz, 82, of Sturgeon Bay, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, February 24, 2023 at Sturgeon Bay Health Services.

He was born December 2, 1940 in Milwaukee, son of the late Herbert Charles and Lorraine Harriet (Martin) Holtz. The Holtz family moved to their new home on Lake Winnebago (Menasha, WI) when Chuck was 10 years old. Chuck graduated from Northwestern Military Academy, Class of 1959, in Lake Geneva, WI (now known as St. John’s Northwestern Military Academy). Chuck continued his education at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where he graduated in 1963.  During his sophomore year he met his future wife on a blind date. On March 23, 1963 Chuck and Judy Bowman were married by Judy’s father, Rev. Robert Clark Bowman, in Council Bluffs, IA. The couple moved to Menasha, WI where Chuck began working with his father at the family business, Appleton Structural Steel. He took over the business in 1974 and worked until his retirement in 1995, when he and Judy moved to Sturgeon Bay. Chuck was a member of the Menasha Rotary, Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, the United States Power Squadron and Bay View Lutheran Church. He lived an adventurous lifestyle and relished in the great outdoors whether he was sailing the Great Lakes, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, scuba diving, off-road jeep racing, ice boating, or just riding his tractor. 

Chuck will be missed by his loving wife of 59 years, Judy; children, John (Theresa) Holtz of Greenville, WI, Kathryn (Wayne) Koball of Siren, WI, Susanne Holtz of Fox Crossing, WI, and Andrew (Stephanie) Holtz of Hortonville, WI; grandchildren, Christopher, Jennifer, Hattie, Noah, Brennan, Rachel, Alexander, Benjamin, Amelia, Samantha and Brooke; sister, Karen (Holtz) Herz; brother-in-law, Ron (Ann Dunlap) Bowman; sister-in-law, Roberta (Joe) Marchese and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steven (Judy) Holtz.

Visitation for friends and family will be held Friday, March 3 at Bay View Lutheran Church  in Sturgeon Bay from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service.  Chuck’s life will be honored with a memorial service at 11:00 a.m.  He will be laid to rest in Shiloh Moravian Cemetery in the Spring.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Chuck’s name to Bay View Lutheran Church, Door County Medical Center Foundation, Unity Hospice or the Door County Maritime Museum.

Chuck’s family wishes to extend a special thank you for the care, support, and compassion shown to Chuck and the entire family by all his doctors and health care workers, Sturgeon Bay Health Services, and Unity Hospice. 

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC of Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Holtz family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Chuck may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.