Jerry Holm, 88, formerly of Warren, IL, passed away on July 8, 2026 at his home in Monroe, WI.  He was born on April 2, 1938 in Dodgeville, WI to Harvey H. and Mildred (Gabel) Holm.  Jerry attended Warren High School and after graduation, entered the U.S. Air Force where he served as a jet aircraft mechanic for four years, during the "Cold War."  In 1958, he married Joan Bondele.  Jerry returned to Warren after his USAF service and worked for Northwestern Telephone Company (Contel) in various capacities until he retired in 1991 after 31 years.  In 1986, he established a small business, Diamond H Sales, which became a fulltime job after retiring from his telephone career.  Jerry was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Warren, IL.  He also was a retired member/officer of the Warren Fire Department as well as a 30+ year member of the Pony of the Americas Club.

Jerry is survived by his wife- Joan; two sons- Terry Holm of Warner, OK and Scott (Kim) Holm of Lee, IL; daughters-in-law Linda Diedrich of Elgin, IL and Jolene Lewis of Benton, WI; five grandchildren- Jessica Parker of Lena, IL, Lyndsey (Ben) Underwood of Dekalb, IL, Jenna (Mason) Winters of Amarillo, TX, Noah (Becca) Holm of Rushville, IN, Hank (Kate) Holm of Winslow, IL; six great-grandchildren- Carson Underwood, Caden Underwood, Alec Parker, Ady Parker, Jaxson Winters and Preslee Winters; two sisters-in-law- Karen (Dalvin) Schultz of Gratiot, WI and Pat (Duane) Shultz of Pulaski, WI and four nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant daughter, Jeri Ann Holm, and brother-in-law Dalvin Schultz.

While applying for a passport in 2007, Jerry discovered that he had been adopted at birth.  Over the next fourteen years he attempted to find his real "roots" but always ran into "those records are sealed".  Finally, through DNA testing in 2021, he found his biological family. Those close family survivors include a brother Leroy (Alice Foster) Collins of New Glarus, WI; sisters- Sharon (Don) Cepican of Libertyville, IL, Shirley (Rick) Kiesling of Stoughton, WI and a brother Randy (Julie) Martinson of Madison, WI, along with eight nephews and six nieces.

His (close) biological family preceding him in death were his father Abert Martinson, Mother Marjorie (Baumgartner) (Collins) Tschanz, a sister Geraldeane Collins, a brother Ronald (Jane) Martinson and a nephew, Jim Collins.

"Above all, SMILE, because I have had a blessed life." – Jerry Holm

Cremation Rites to be accorded

A gathering in celebration of Jerry's life will be held at Pecatonica Tap House in Warren, IL on Sunday July 19th from 1:00-4:00 pm. At 3:00 pm family and friends are invited to share stories, laughter and memories of Jerry.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established in his memory.