Obituary of Gary Ronald Holland

Gary Ronald Holland, MSGT (Ret.) Gary Ronald Holland, Master Sergeant, U.S. Army (Retired), passed away on June 12, 2025, at the age of 76 at the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James, Missouri. He was born on November 29, 1948, in Waynesville, Missouri, to Otto and Virginia (Pursifull) Holland. He was welcomed into the world by his older brother, Thomas (Tom) Holland. The values of hard work and service shaped Gary’s life. His father, Otto, was both a farmer and a U.S. Army serviceman, which caused the family to relocate often. As such, his childhood was spent in Missouri, California, Hawaii, Kansas, and Alaska. He graduated from East High School in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1967 and briefly worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game before enlisting in the U.S. Army that same year. After completing basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington, Gary attended Field Artillery Surveyor School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he graduated at the top of his class and was promoted to Specialist 4 for his academic excellence. His first assignment was at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and in 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Linda. Gary's distinguished military career spanned more than two decades and included assignments across the globe. Following Fort Belvoir, he was stationed at Pinder Barracks in Zirndorf, Germany, achieving the rank of Sergeant. After an honorable discharge, he lived in Glendale, Arizona, working as a construction surveyor, but re-enlisted in 1973 and returned to Fort Sill before transferring to Fort Carson, Colorado. He served at Camp Casey, South Korea, as a Staff Sergeant, and once again returned to Fort Sill as an instructor. By 1978, he had been promoted to Sergeant First Class. The next year, Gary was assigned to Herzo Artillery Base in Herzogenaurach, Germany, serving as Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Field Artillery section. Three years later, he became an ROTC instructor at St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, New Jersey. He later served at Fort Hood, Texas, and Ray Barracks in Friedberg, Germany, ultimately retiring in 1990 at the rank of Master Sergeant. Family was important to Gary. He and Linda had two children, Michael (Mike) and Jennifer (Jen), who traveled extensively with him—except during his tour in Korea. In 1993, after his divorce and Jen’s graduation from high school, Gary moved from Killeen, Texas, to Licking, Missouri. He later helped his brother Tom and sister-in-law Sally when they moved to Licking for retirement. He also provided a lot of love and support for his daughter Jen throughout the years. Proud of his service, Gary remained active in veterans’ organizations and was a lifetime member of both VFW Post 6337 and the American Legion in Licking, volunteering regularly as a bingo caller. He also worked locally as a home repair contractor and was known as a generous and dependable member of his community. Gary loved two kinds of music — country and western — and was especially a fan of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Randy Travis. Gifted with a rich baritone voice, he was known for singing Randy Travis songs with the best of them. He enjoyed working with his hands, whether it was repairing his truck or improving his home. He had a sharp, sarcastic sense of humor and delighted in telling stories—especially from his time in the Army. One such military story took place in Germany, when Gary’s artillery survey team had set up their tripods and scopes before breaking for lunch. From a distance, he noticed someone tampering with the gear. He shouted a few choice words—only to realize he was yelling at General Patton II. Expecting the worst, he was surprised when the General apologized, explaining his curiosity about the equipment. A dutiful soldier, Gary then gave Patton a full demonstration. Afterward, the General thanked him sincerely, providing a humorous memory he would share for the rest of his life. Gary is survived by his daughter, Jen Charbonneau (husband Marc) of Almonte, Ontario; his son, Mike Holland (partner Betsy) of Port Orchard, Washington; and his granddaughters: Storm Johnson (partner Kevin) and Autumn Johnson (partner Justin), both of Almonte; Whitney Holland (husband Jeff) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Hayley Losli (husband Eli) of Juneau, Alaska. He is also survived by great-grandchildren Mackenzie Losli, Kinsley Coombs, and Kevin “Trip” Gayton III, as well as a great-granddaughter, Zoey Losli, expected in November. Other survivors include his brother, Tom Holland, and sister-in-law, Sally Holland, both of Licking; nephews Scott Holland (wife Kelso) of Licking and David Holland of St. Charles, Missouri; great-nieces Sophia and Vivian Holland of St. Charles; and numerous cousins in the Licking area. He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Virginia Holland; grandparents Thomas and Belle Holland, George and Faye Chilton, and James Pursifull; and many aunts and uncles from the Licking area. On Monday, June 23, 2025, there will be visitation at 11:00 AM and a funeral service at 1:00 PM at Fox Funeral Home in Licking, MO, for Gary. He will be laid to rest at Patterson Cemetery. Pallbearers for Gary will be Tony Floyd, Rawly Gorman, Josh Gorman, David Holland, Scott Holland, and Jacob Skiles. Following the graveside, there will be a luncheon at the VFW Hall in Licking.