Julie Holtze

Julia “Julie” Matlock Holtze, 94, of Okoboji, IA, passed away peacefully and went to join her loved ones on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at her home in Okoboji. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, IA. Burial will take place in the Lake View Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home, formerly known as the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com Julie was born on July 9, 1928, to William “Bill” and Ruth (Blanks) Matlock in San Angelo, TX. She graduated from San Angelo High School in 1945 and attended Southwestern College in Georgetown, Texas where she joined the Tri Delta Sorority. She met John Samuel Holtze in San Angelo while he was stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base. Julie and John (affectionately known as Andy) were married in San Angelo on July 16, 1949, and moved to Sioux City, IA, where John went on to join his father as a partner in H.S. Holtze Construction Company. Sioux City is where they had and raised their three children. Julie felt blessed to be their mother and she dedicated herself to raising them as a homemaker. Bill, Robin, Andrea and their families were her greatest joy in life. Julie was raised in the Methodist church. Julie and John were members of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City for 50 years. Growing up, Julie was quite the pianist. She was born with a strong guiding light which was instilled in her while she was raised in West Texas. Julie truly had a zest for and loved life, her family and entertaining friends at her home. She was often called the consummate entertainer, or “Hostess with the Mostess!” There was no one who could put on a dinner party with more panache than Julie Holtze, from her lovely and elegantly set tables to the food she served. She also loved to dance with John. Julie loved cooking and was a master chef and even has her own cookbook that she treasured giving to her family and friends. She was a master of all types of food from French to Mexican foods. If you couldn’t find Julie in the kitchen she could be found in her extensive gardens where she would passionately care for her many varieties of flowers. She was also a golf and tennis enthusiast and often spoke proudly of her golf club championships at the Sioux City Country Club. She enjoyed gathering with her family and friends playing Bridge and Pitch. Julie and John had a love of travel and traveled extensively throughout the world with family and friends. Some of her fondest memories was traveling to the different French and Italian wine regions and to Mexico with friends. Julie always had a lifelong love of history and archaeological studies and never tired of learning of other cultures and histories. She especially loved U.S. History and was a strong patriotic woman. Julie was President of the Sioux City Junior League, Sioux City Art Center, a member of the States Arts Council, and the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji. a member of American Girls Book Club, a member of the Investment Club, multiple Bridge Clubs with her friends including one with her very oldest friends at the San Angelo Country Club. She volunteered much of her life to many different causes. Julie and John had a love affair that spanned decades that has now been rekindled in heaven. She was loved by all who knew her, and she will be terribly missed. Left to cherish her memory is her children, son Dr. John William “Bill” (Mary) Holtze of Ann Arbor, MI; daughters Robin Mahan of Kerrville, TX; and Andrea Waitt (Rick) Carlton of Nashville, TN; 6 grandchildren, Carla (Bob) Cell, Colin (Kate) Holtze, Bill Holtze, Eliza Mahan, Samuel Waitt and Wesley Carlton, 4 great grandchildren, beloved sister-in-law Mary Jo Matlock; and many, many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ruth (Blanks) Matlock, siblings William Matlock Jr., Ruth Ann Ricker, and Gibb Matlock, and her beloved husband John Holtze in 2013. Donations may be given to the First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake.

Julie Holtze

July 9, 1928 - September 21, 2022