John Jack Stanton Holland

He was born in St. Louis Aug. 28, 1921, and was the son of the late Paul and Norma E. (Stanton) Holland.

He graduated in 1934 from the country schools of Delhi, and from Blewett High School, St. Louis, in 1938. After high school, he attended Harris Teachers College for two and one half years, during which time he enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training program, completing the course in December 1941 with a commercial pilot's license. During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theatre as a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. After the war, he entered the Retired Reserve in the Marine Corps with the rank of Major.

In 1947, he graduated from the University of Illinois, and while at the university, he was a flight instructor at the Institute of Aviation Pilot Training program. He retired from McDonnell Douglas in 1977 after more than twenty years of service, and had been a corporate pilot.

Jack is survived by a sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Eugene Schmidtlein of Columbia, Mo.; a sister-in-law, Norma Holland of Alton. He was a loving and devoted uncle, godfather, cousin and friend.

He was preceded in death by four brothers and sisters-in-law, Edward and Wilma Holland, Paul and Elizabeth Holland, George Holland and Joseph Holland.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 27, at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father Patrick Gibbons officiating.

Burial will be in the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Jerseyville, where the Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 will conduct military honors.

Memorials may be given to the St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic Schools, 506 S. State St., Jerseyville, IL 62052, Carmelite Sisters, 10341 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63122 or to the Special Olympics of Missouri, 1001 Diamond Ridge No. 800, Jefferson City, MO 65410.