Aaron Holst

Aaron was born on a farm in Maysville, Iowa. He had a rough start being premature and hardly breathing. His grandmother put him in her oven to warm him and he soon came to life.

He worked hard in his youth as a newspaper carrier in Davenport, Iowa carefully cultivating a favorable image among his customers in the frigid winters of Iowa.

Not content to remain living in Davenport after his high school graduation in 1941, he set out in a 1934 Chevy (he had bought it from one of his newspaper route customers) for California. On the way he stopped to earn money at a cattle ranch in Wyoming and then in a copper mine in Toole, Utah. He also participated in a rodeo riding a wild bronc which threw him off after 1 second- ending his attempt to add “rodeo cowboy” to his resume.

Once he arrived in California he felt like he was in heaven. He immediately was hired by a Standard Oil service station in Beverly Hills. During his workday he met many movie stars of that era. One of those was Bob Hope who asked Aaron if he wanted to be a cowboy extra in the movies, Aaron declined as he remembered his quick exit from the rodeo horse.

When WWII broke out on Dec 7, 1941, Aaron went back to Davenport. Aaron had a back injury from childhood which kept him out of military service-- though he wanted to join the Army Air Corps. During the early War Years Aaron assisted with his father’s food market his and learned to be a butcher and manage a grocery store.

One weekend in 1943 Aaron decided to go to the “Prom” roller skating rink in Davenport. It was there he met Mary Berg and asked her to do a “couples waltz” with him. She said “yes” and they promptly fell in love and married the day after Mary graduated from high school in 1945.

Aaron subsequently bought the store from his father and expanded the store with a lot of effort and his great ability to make his customers happy. He was one of the first independent markets in the area to institute shopping carts.

Sharon, their only child, was born in Davenport in the first year of their marriage. Aaron worked long hours to make sure his family was comfortable and secure. His grandfather Gus taught him carpentry and Aaron, with his grandfather’s help, built his house while still working at the store.

In 1967 Aaron decided to sell his market and become an Insurance Agent for The Prudential in Davenport. His business and people skills resulted in him being the Top Producer for Prudential in a 10 state area. He later continued with Prudential in Southern California winning many awards until he retired in 1980 at the age of 56.

In 1971 Aaron and Mary moved to S. California to be close to Sharon, Mel, and soon to be born Kimberly. They bought a home in Fountain Valley and enjoyed everything Orange County offered. Later they moved to Gold River, CA to be close to their family who had moved to El Dorado Hills as a result of job transfers. Aaron and Mary LOVED their new home in Gold River/Maidu Village where he served on the Gold River Board of Directors and multiple committees.

It did not seem to matter what family issues surfaced because he was always positive. When Mary’s health declined he cared for her for 8 years which was a major effort that reminded all of us what the vows “In sickness and in health…” really meant. Later, Aaron survived Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer at age 91. A challenge that never dampened his positive attitude.

Aaron is survived by his beloved daughter Sharon (Mel), his precious granddaughter Kimberly (Derek), and his great grandchildren Connor(19), Katie (14), and Bryson (16).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MountVernonMemorial.com for the Holst family.