MARVIN HOLZBACH

DESOTO-A memorial gathering will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Mahn DeSoto Chapel, followed by a service at 7 p.m. for Marvin Edward Holzbach, 72, DeSoto, who died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015, at his home, following a sudden illness.

His family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar.

Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.danielfuneralhome.net.

Survivors include Jeaneyl Hazlett, of the home; a son, Troy Holzbach and wife Dawna and a daughter, Bonnie Behrend and husband Rick, all of Lamar; a brother, Bobby Holzbach, New Bern, N.C.; six grandsons, Derek, Jacob, Keaton, John, Matt and M.G. and four great-grandchildren, Zain, James, Jolie and Emery.

He was preceded in death by a half-brother, John Holzbach.

Mr. Holzbach was born Jan. 15, 1943, in Richmond, Va., to John and Myrtle Holzbach. He lived most of his adult life in Barton County, where he worked a short time at Thorco and farmed south of Milford for 15 years. He then worked for O'Sullivan Industries for many years, retiring when the plant closed in 2007. He moved to DeSoto in 2010 and his last five years were filled with joy and contentment, enriched by sharing them with Jeaneyl Hazlett.

Despite having vision in only one eye, he excelled in softball as a pitcher and umpire. He shared his love of the game and mentored many girls as coach of Lamar girls softball and Jones Boots women's competitive league team. He was an avid NASCAR and Jeff Gordon fan and took great pride in his extensive memorabilia collection. A classic car enthusiast and member of a car club, he was always eager to enter and excited about the many trophies he earned at car shows.