Mark served our country for 29 years in the US Air Force. He spent several overseas tours including Guam, Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, and Germany. Stateside Mark was assigned to CA, MN, TX, AZ, NE, and ND. Many happy memories were made. He was a member of VFW Post 137 the American Legion #71.
He enjoyed fishing and gardening, family get-togethers and polka music. He loved watching and feeding the birds and squirrels that were sure to come around the house, better than watching tv, he thought. Unless of course there was a good Vikings football or Twins baseball game on, he would sit in his favorite chair, with his team hat on his head & cheering , calling his sons to make a bet who would win. Reading the Nebraska newspapers and magazines was something he looked forward to coming in the mail.
Growing up working on the farm, it was natural for him to work again with the plants and soil.
After retirement from the Air Force, he was employed at Carlson’s Florist and Greenhouse which he enjoyed very much while meeting a lot of wonderful people; he likes to keep in touch with them.
Mark is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Eugene, Donald, LaVern (Smokey), and Melvin Hollatz; and his son, Bryon.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Thelma Darlene Hollatz; brother, Gerald (Linda); sister-in-law, Carolyn Hollatz; children, Scott (Lynn Ann) Hollatz, Dennis (Kathy) Hollatz, Gary (Diane) Hollatz, daughter, Julie (Larry) Ashcraft; five grandchildren, Christopher & Timothy Knight, Jason Hollatz, Ashley McCall and Justin Hollatz; one great-grandchild, Adalyn Knight; and many nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to thank those who cared for him at North Shore Estates, Essentia Hospital & Solvay Hospice House.
Visitation: 10:00 a.m. until the 11:00 a.m. Memorial Service on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at Bell Brothers Funeral Home, 601 N. 56th Ave. W.., Duluth. Inurnment will be at the new State Veterans Cemetery in Pike Lake. Arrangements by Bell Brothers Funeral Home, Duluth.
