Ralph L Holland

Ralph Lewis Holland, 85 of Petoskey, Michigan died September 29, 2025 at Bay Bluffs in Harbor Springs Michigan. A Funeral service will be held 2:00 pm Friday, October 10, 2025 at the Epsilon United Methodist Church with a visitation being held from 1:00 pm until the time of service. Pastor Dave Price of the Epsilon Community Church will officiate and burial will be in Joy Cemetery, Springvale Township, followed by military honors.

Ralph was born November 5, 1939 in Cheboygan, Michigan, the son of Vernon Hollopeter and Dorothy Pemberton Hollopeter. He grew up in Petoskey and attended Petoskey schools. Ralph was honorably discharged from the US Army PFC military police. In 1961 Ralph married Waltraud (Wally) Kraft in Bad Hersfeld, Germany. At a very young age, Ralph and his brother Marvin would pick up potatoes at a local farm. They would get paid $.50 for a bushel. He then went to work for McCory‘s dime store in downtown Petoskey. He would work until closing time and then reset pins at the local bowling alley. He quit school and in 1980 he went back to school and got his GED. We were all very proud of him. 

After he was discharged from the army, he worked for Cook electric. He was maintenance supervisor at ITT factory, where they produced automobile harnesses. There was not a piece of machinery he couldn’t fix. When that plant closed, he would travel downstate on Sunday night and work at another factory and return home Friday night. He then went to Work for Burns Security at Big Rock Nuclear Power Plant. 

Ralph’s hard work and dedication was passed on to his children. Ralph enjoyed deer hunting season and going out to his shop and working with his hands. He especially liked making wooden rabbits. All his children and grandchildren have many of them. He also built them for the children at church. He would talk your ears off about his favorite horse, Star. 

Ralph and Wally had four children, Mike Holland, Doris Brazie, Evelyn (Chip) Dunshee (Duane), and Mark Holland. They also have nine grandchildren, Heidi, John, Christopher, Jodi, Elizabeth, Sydney, Monica and Drew and they also have ten great grandchildren. Ralph will also be missed by his faithful companion Fritz. Ralph also leaves behind one brother Marvin Holland, his brother-in-law‘s and sister-in-law‘s in Germany, and several nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his son, Mike Holland, parents, Vernon and Dorothy Hollopeter, Norma Fletcher, sister, Carol Murray, sister, John Hollopeter, brother. 

Family suggests memorials to the Epsilon Community Church, Bay Bluffs building fund, and Advisor Care Hospice.

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