Dennis E. Kirkholm

SOUTH SIOUX CITY -- Dennis E. Kirkholm of South Sioux City passed away Monday, May 5, 2008, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, May 9, 2008 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in South Sioux City. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 5 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Visitation will resume 9:30 a.m. until service time Friday at the church. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Dennis Eugene Kirkholm was born March 28, 1955 in Sioux City, to Marvin and Margaret (Murphy) Kirkholm. He was raised on a farm near Everly, Iowa, where he became a lifelong fan of the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. He attended grade school as a dedicated Everly CattleFeeder and followed the legendary Everly High School girls six-on-six basketball teams to state competitions.

In 1969, he relocated with his family to a farm near Oto, Iowa, and graduated from Westwood High School in Sloan, Iowa, in 1973. He attended Iowa State University and was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity from which he gained many new "brothers" who remained friends throughout his life. Following college, he farmed with his father and brothers in Woodbury County, Iowa, later moving with the family operation to Homer, Neb., in 1982.

He married Nancy Sawin on April 6, 1979 in Anthon, Iowa. The couple raised two children, Tyler and Tess.

His dedication to agriculture was evident early in his life. He enjoyed researching and implementing new technology into his farming practices. He took pride in working with his family and raising his children on the farm. He was especially pleased when Tyler and Tess decided to pursue agriculture degrees from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He had looked forward to working with Tyler, who had returned to the farm in December 2007, following graduation.

His nieces and nephews were special to him and they supplied beautiful get-well artwork to cover his hospital room walls. Though he taught his nephews, Justin and Ben, that he was their favorite uncle, it was he who benefited most from participating in the daily lives of the boys, whose father, Craig, was a partner of his for nearly 35 years.

He served in the Dakota County Omadi Drainage and Papio-Missouri River Water Boards. He was a member of St. Cornelius Church in Homer, where following Sunday Mass, he often entertained fellow parishioners with his wit and sense of humor at Legion hall breakfasts.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy; a son, Tyler; a daughter, Tess; his mother, Marge of Moville, Iowa; brothers, Craig (Sheila) of Homer and Kyan (Diane) of Shenedohah, Iowa; a sister, Jodi (Rick) Steffen of Moville, Iowa; brothers and sisters-in-law, Ken and Janet Madsen of Overland Park, Kan., Mark and JoAnn Sawin of Sioux City, Marcel and Suzanne VanZwol of Playa del Ray, Calif., Jake and Lisa Peters of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mike and Beth Balzer of Des Moines and David and Clair Sawin of Tigard, Ore.; and nieces and nephews, Kati and Keely Steffen, Justin, Chance and Ben Kirkholm, Erin Madsen, Katie and Nick Sawin, Celine Vanzwol, Nathan and Abby Peters, Max and Elyse Balzer and Lexie and Eric Sawin.

He was preceded in death by his father; and a brother, Doug.

Pallbearers will be Gary Walters, Terry Kucera, Bryce Andersen, Dean Albrecht, Roger Thompson, Mike Fogarty, Kirk Scheelhaase and Fred Barclay. Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Glenn, Robert Lewis Jr., Justin Kirkholm and Ben Kirkholm.

Memorials and charities will be designated at a later date.