Iris Merle (Reeves) Holman

In Loving Memory of
Iris Merle 
Holman
(nee Reeves)
age 87
beloved wife of the late Jack Holman
beloved mother, grandmother, 
and great grandmother

Died
December 12, 2020
at Lorne Memorial Hospital
Swan Lake, Manitoba

A private graveside service will be 
held at the Crystal City Cemetery. 

Donations in memory of Iris may be
 made to Prairie View Lodge Foundation, 
424 Broadway Ave. W. Apt. 26, Pilot Mound, MB R0G 1P0 or a charity of one’s choice.

“I am at peace. My soul’s at rest. There is no need for tears, for with your love, I was so blessed for all those many years.”

Iris Merle (Reeves) Holman

May 5, 1933 – December 12, 2020

No more confusion, no more pain. Iris Merle Holman died December 12, 2020 at the age of 87.

Iris's father Herbert Reeves was in the British Royal Navy in World War I. He and his wife Dorothy and son Ron emigrated to Morden, Manitoba after the war. There Iris and her other brother Ken were born. During WWII Herbert was part of the militia guard in BC; Ron joined the military near the end of the war as soon as he was old enough. Ken also had a long military career. Because of this, Iris was a very proud and loyal Legion Auxiliary member.

She grew up loving to play sports like baseball and hockey and later on curling. After high school she worked in a bank for a year but then embarked on her true love: teaching. She taught on permit at McKenzie School south of La Riviere 1952-53 then went to Normal School to further her teacher training. The camaraderie of the people she met there made it a highlight of her life; those women became her life-long friends. In the fall of 1954 she got the job of teaching in a little one-room grade 1 to 8 school at Rosebud south of Crystal City. She taught there for two years and met a nearby farmer Jack Holman. In 1956 she taught grades 7 and 8 in Crystal City.

July 6, 1957 Iris and Jack were married at Morden. They went on a honeymoon trip in Jack's truck to the Calgary Stampede. Iris gave up teaching and learned to drive a tractor and help on the farm. She and Jack had three sons: Lindsay, Larry and Scott. Now life evolved around farming and hockey, Sunday School, gardening and visits with friends and neighbors. Iris was a Pembina Valley School Division trustee, helped with the Ag. Society and for decades was involved in church and UCW. She formed the “young UCW group” and was awarded a UCW Life Membership in 2010. She could be stern and expected things to be done correctly but had a wonderful sense of humor and loved skits and having fun.

After raising three boys, one of the happiest days of her life was when her granddaughter Kristy was born; she had yearned for a girl! Later came Erin (Scott's daughter) and then “the little missy'' her great-granddaughter Clover. She loved all her grand children and great grandchildren dearly.

Despite numerous health problems like Parkinson's Disease and macular degeneration, Iris was always upbeat and ready to tackle life's problems. But, when her husband of almost 63 years, Jack died in May, it became apparent that she could no longer live alone in her own home. In July she moved into the Alternative Care Unit at Prairie View Lodge in Pilot Mound.

She resented but understood the Covid-19 restrictions and was longing for a time to be with all the family again. She was thrilled that she was able to attend some of Kristy's wedding in October.

Iris is survived by her sons: Lindsay & Nancy and their children Kyle (Amy) and Kristy (Conrad Smith) and Kyle's children Easton, Beckett and Clover as well as Conrad's kids Rayna, Savannah and Chase; Larry & Yvonne and their son Mark; Scott & Kerry and their children Derek and Erin (David Panchuk); and her sister-in-law Elaine Reeves. Jack's sisters Lorraine LaLier Parsonage (Jack) and Fay (Clare) Hagyard were always important to Iris. Iris was predeceased by her partner and husband Jack, Larry's son Michael and her brothers Ron and Ken and nephew Steve Reeves.

Because of Covid-19 regulations, a private family graveside service was held at the Crystal City Cemetery December 18 with Emily Lovell officiating. Grandson Kyle Holman read “memories of grandma” compiled by the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Prairie View Lodge Foundation, 26-242 Broadway Ave., Pilot Mound, MB R0G 1P0

A Life Well Lived

A life well lived is a precious gift,

of hope and strength and grace,

from someone who has made our world

a brighter, better place.

It's filled with moments, sweet and sad

with smiles and sometimes tears,

with friendships formed and good times shared,

and laughter through the years.

A life well lived is a legacy,

of joy and pride and pleasure,

a living, lasting memory

our grateful hearts will treasure.

- author unknown

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