Horst Ollmann

Horst Ollmann, longtime resident of St. James Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, FL, passed away peacefully with his loving wife, Linda, of 32 years by his side, in the predawn hours of March 24, 2025, at the age of 90.

Horst was born on March 9th in Horst Seebad, a seaside resort on the Baltic Sea. His early childhood was full of exploration, adventure, and outrunning anyone who challenged him. His big-hearted love of life was a constant throughout his many years and adventures.

As WWII ravaged Europe, life for Horst and his family changed. Towards the end of the war, as the Russian army moved into his small town, the family made the difficult decision to leave their home and flee westward. They dealt with many hardships as refugees searching for food, shelter, and a new place to call home. Their final stop was Solingen, Germany. There, Horst began his work as a machinist and joined the local track and field club to train and compete as a runner. An auspicious friendship led him

to emigrate to America in 1959. After decades of sharing his story, he recorded his recollections for a book that he wrote with his daughter, titled Horst to Holyoke: A Father-Daughter Memoir about Storytelling, Memory, and Meaning Making.

After a year in Holyoke, Massachusetts, Horst was drafted into the US Army. He was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany and there he met and married his first wife Jutta. They had two children together, Nicole and Thomas.

Horst had many hobbies and interests, including running, biking, golfing, sailing, photography, and beer brewing. He had a beautiful singing voice and serenaded his second wife Linda for the 32 years of their marriage. Together they supported each other and undertook new adventures. After retiring at 65, Horst rode his bicycle across America. Horst and Linda completed a bike trip from Florida to Massachusetts and later hiked the Camino de Santiago. Horst remained full of wonder and appreciation for his rich and beautiful life.

Horst will be remembered fondly by family and friends near and far. He is survived by his wife Linda, his daughter and son-in-law Nicole and James Shea of Baltimore, his son and daughter-in-law Tom and Anne Ollmann of Scarborough, ME, his younger brother Johannes, and nieces and nephews in both Germany and America. He is preceded in death by his parents Paul and Gertrude, his sister Charlotte, and brothers Heinz, Wilhelm, and Rudolph.