Marilyn "Jody" JoAnn Holdcroft

Marilyn JoAnn “Jody” Holdcroft (Haugen) was born on January 2, 1934 to Ann & Ole Haugen in Sioux City, Iowa. She was a first generation American from her father’s Norwegian heritage & a second generation American from her mother’s Swedish heritage. She graduated from East High School in Sioux City in January of 1952. She married her High School sweetheart Bill, (who joined the Navy in the spring of 1952) on June 19, 1952 and they were happily married for 61 years. They spent their 25 years in the Navy living in San Diego, California; Chincoteague, Virginia; Omaha, Nebraska and Key West, Florida. (While living in Key West she was named “Military Wife of the Year” in 1972 along with several Service Hours awards.) Through this union they were blessed, as Jody would say, with three wonderful children, Rick, Teresa and Bill, Jr. They retired from the Navy in 1976 and settled in Omaha. She truly loved her life as a Navy wife. (Her beloved Bill passed away in September of 2013.)

Jody devoted herself to raising her three children first and foremost, and then to volunteering in whatever city she happened to be living in at the time. Her mother, a wonderful Christian woman of faith, instilled in Jody and her two sisters, Kay and Jeanne, the importance of always living your life in service to others and to the Lord. Jody was known as a passionate volunteer and a fierce advocate for equality for all. She detested discrimination of any kind toward another human being and was not timid about verbally advocating her feeling. She was a champion for the weak and bullied. Jody and Bill raised their children with these same values. Jody spoke frequently to her three children, 13 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren about these additional important life values:

1. Treat people the way you want to be treated!

2. No one is better than you and you are better than no one!

3. Remember to always give back!

4. Always have a kind heart! (Her grandchildren heard this a lot!)

Jody loved spending time with her family and vacationing in Bemidji, Minnesota for over 40 years at a family cabin. She was an avid artist and loved to paint. While stationed in Key West, Florida she fell in love with painting shrimp boats and pelicans. Later after retiring, Jody and Bill would visit their 2 sons and families, who both just happened to follow in their father’s footsteps and joined the Navy and had wonderful careers. Those travels took them all over the United States. They visited their daughter Teresa and family in Roswell, Georgia for Thanksgiving every year for over 20 years. Jody truly loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They never left grandma’s house without a craft or some kind of artwork in their hand. She would read, play games, play-cooking on the back porch, to putting on skits and plays in the garage. The energy Jody had for her grandchildren and honestly, everything she did in her life, was astounding.

Jody’s most joy in volunteering was done in and through her church, no matter where she attended. Her love and devotion to the Lord was the bases for her volunteerism. Jody Chaired and served on many Church Committees, a Lay Leader, Sunday School Superintendent, a visiting Minister to the church shut-ins, devoted to maintaining the Church Library, Garage Sale Coordinator, a devoted member of UMW (United Methodist Women) and always enjoyed working with the Children’s Ministries. Jody always said, “I don’t know how people survive without a wonderful church family!” She knew and felt this attending Rockbrook UMC for over 50 years as a member! Jody will always be remembered as the “Official Church Greeter” at every church she attended. It was important to her that every person who entered into the house of the Lord felt welcomed!

Jody volunteered for M.A.D.D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) for over 30 years. While most people are active in MADD because a friend or family member was injured or killed by a drunk driver, Jody joined because her father was an alcoholic. (Her late husband Bill, also grew up with an alcoholic father.) She fiercely wanted to do something about the devastation that alcohol abuse can cause to families and society. She was a past president of MADD for Nebraska and a Vice President of Metro MADD here in Omaha. Jody was also a member of "Project Extra Mile," which centers on ways to prevent teenage drinking. Both MADD & "Project Extra Mile" work on legislation to aid in their specific programs.

Jody volunteered and was an original Board Member for Habitat for Humanity here in Omaha in 1984 upon its start. One of her favorite times in Habitat was chairing a 13 church coalition in the building of 5 homes. In the early years of Habitat they would organize a "Blitz Builds," in which 5-7 homes would be built in a week. She would be exhausted at the end of that week, but so grateful to the Lord that 5 families had a home of their own. In Jody’s late 70’s she struggled with Habitat for Humanity in Omaha when they started accepting donations from alcohol-based venues. She fought hard to change this avenue of donations knowing the original Habitat Mission Statement did not allow such donations. She did however remain a devoted volunteer for 31 years.

Jody was also a long-time member of “Omaha for Decency” and the church representative to

“OTOC”, Omaha Together One Community. She truly loved these devoted people and loved to work with these organizations. She also worked as a Library Aide at Walt Disney Elementary School for over 20 years in Millard.

She will be missed by so, so many.....heaven is lucky to have her!

Jody’s children and their families know how very blessed & honored they are to call her Mom, Grandma and Great-Grandma!

Jody departed this life on Easter morning, April 4, 2021. She was 87 years old.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill Holdcroft; parents, Ann & Ole Haugen; Granddaughter, Teri Jo Reese-Hull.

She is survived by:

2 sisters & 3 brothers-in-law, Kay & Doug Delzell of Sioux City, Iowa, Jeanne & Don Devine of Lake City, Iowa & Tom Holdcroft of Fresno, California.

3 Children: Rick Holdcroft (wife Mary Jo) of Bellevue, NE, Teresa Holdcroft-Reese of Omaha, NE and Bill Holdcroft, Jr. of Omaha, NE.

13 Grandchildren: Michael Holdcroft (wife Amy), Kimberly Dorn (husband Jeremy), Valerie Holdcroft, Amy Buss (husband Erich), Ricky Holdcroft, Ben Reese (Rachel), Will Reese (wife Casey), Sarah Holdcroft, Bryan Holdcroft (wife Kristin), Melissa Holdcroft (Marcel), Will Holdcroft & Sam Holdcroft

14 Great-Grandchildren: Jack Holdcroft, Justin Holdcroft, Ella Holdcroft, Disu Holdcroft, Naka Holdcroft, Lily Holdcroft, Adam Dorn, Tommy Dorn, Evan Dorn, Teri Reese, Matilda Reese, Cuthbert Reese, Mila Holdcroft-Chabossou and Hudson Holdcroft