William Charles Holl Jr.

William Charles Holl Jr., known to many as “Bill”, was born on 7, January, 1940 in a suburb of Los Angeles, California. He was the first of three children of parents, Eloise Holman, a homemaker and William Holl Sr., a sheet metal fabricator and small business owner. He attended Franklin High School in Los Angeles and graduated in 1958. Following graduation, the family moved to Northern California, where Bill attended Modesto Junior College and obtained his Associate of Arts degree in 1960. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam Conflict and completed basic training at Fort Ord, where he was primarily stationed for the duration of his tour. He completed four years of distinguished service, was recognized as an accomplished sharp-shooter, and discharged honorably from the Army Reserves with the rank of Sergeant. After transitioning back to civilian life, Bill returned to finish his education, graduating from then Fresno State College (currently known as CSU Fresno) in 1968, with his Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Technology.

During and after his college career, Bill held several positions in local government in both Tulare and Fresno counties. It was during this time that he met and later married his first wife, Nancy Gilgert whom he met at a church social. Together they had two children, Dara Jeanette in 1971 and Nathan William in 1973. Following their divorce, Bill worked in the insurance field and eventually remarried Janet “Jan” Wilson in 1984. Together they had one child, Eric William, born the same year, and ran a successful insurance fraud investigation firm for nearly three decades. He retired in 2012 at the age of 72.

He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Stockton, and was heavily involved with both the Sanctuary Choir and Worship Arts Team due to his wife Jan’s membership, as well as the annual Father’s Day Car Show and several bible studies. He was widely known to all as an overtly kind, patient and friendly person, and was well known for his over-the-top sense of humor. He was an avid fisherman and in his spare time enjoyed camping, boating, classic cars, travel and both comedy and “B” horror films. Sadly, he was stricken with several serious health conditions in his final years and was called home to the Lord on 10, February, 2025, at the age of 85.

William was preceded in death by his loving wife of 40 years, Jan. He is succeeded by younger siblings: Robert “Bob” Holl and his wife Hallie, Elizabeth Ann “Libby” Azevedo and her husband Larry, the children listed above, as well as his children by marriage: Gina Rothermel and her husband Peter, Mark Zaremba and his wife Michele and Kristine Holl, his grandchildren: Melissa Zaremba, Gianna Zaremba, Judah Holl, Josiah Holl, Kainoah Rodrigues, Ryan Rothermel, Tyler Rothermel, as well his great grandchild Cy Rothermel and Marina Crippen closest friend of his son Eric, whom both he and Jan looked on as their own.

He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. There will be a Military Honors Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Bill on Saturday, 29 March, 2025 at 2 pm. The service will be held at First Baptist Church - 3535 N. El Dorado Street, in Stockton in the Auxiliary Chapel, adjacent to the Main Worship Center with a lunch reception immediately following. All who knew him are welcome to attend.

2 Corinthians 5:8