John Holland

Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, John Stanton "Jack" Holland, died at 11:15 p.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at the St. Agnes Home in Kirkwood, Mo.He was in St. Louis, Mo. on Aug. 28, 1921, and was the son of the late Paul & Norma E. (Stanton) Holland.He graduated in 1934 from the country schools of Delhi, and from Blewett High School, St. Louis, Mo. in 1938.  After high school, he attended Harris Teachers College for two and one half years, during which time he enrolled in the Civilian Pilot Training Program, completing the course in December 1941 with a Commerical Pilots License.  During World War II, he served in the Pacific Theatre as a pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps.  He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal.  After the war, he entered the Retired Reserve in the Marine Corps. with the rank of Major.  In 1947, he graduated from the University of Illinois, and while at the university, he was a flight instructor at the Institute of Aviation Pilot Training Program.  He retired from McDonnell Douglas in 1977 after more than twenty years of service, and had been a corporate pilot.Jack is survived by a sister & brother in law, Mary & Eugene Schmidtlein of Columbia, Mo.; a sister in law, Norma Holland of Alton.  He was a loving and devoted uncle, godfather, cousin & friend.He was preceded in death by four brothers & sisters in law, Edward & Wilma Holland, Paul & Elizabeth Holland, George Holland, and Joseph Holland.Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m., Saturday at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father Patrick Gibbons officiating.  Burial will be in the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Jerseyville, where the Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 will conduct military honors.Memorials may be given to the St. Francis/Holy Ghost Catholic Schools, 506 S. State Street, Jerseyville, Il., 62052, Carmelite Sisters, 10341 Manchester Road, St. Louis, Mo., 63122 or to the Special Olympics of Missouri, 1001 Diamond Ridge #800, Jefferson City, Mo. 65410.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home