Joel O. Holtan, age 84, of Forest City, Iowa, died Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002, at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the Winnebago Lutheran Church in rural Lake Mills, Iowa, with the Rev. Bill Peters officiating. Burial will be at Winnebago Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Lake Mills. Visitation will be from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home,

505 N. Clark St.,

Forest City.

Joel Oris Holtan was born on a farm in Mt. Valley Township, Winnebago County, Iowa, on Aug. 26, 1918, the son of George and Marie (Haugen) Holtan. He received his education in a rural school near his home and attended Waldorf Academy from 1932 to 1936. He married Genevieve Monson on July 23, 1941, at Winnebago Lutheran Church.

The couple made their home on the Holtan homestead where Joel was born and grew up. He farmed until retiring and moving to Forest City in 1985. He was an active member of Winnebago Lutheran Church and served in many capacities over the years. He was active in the Republican Party and Farm Bureau.

Music was an important part of Joel’s life. He played the harmonica and the saxophone and loved to sing, sharing this talent with others for weddings and funerals. He performed with the Forest City Barbershop Chorus and was part of a quartet for several years. He liked sports and loved watching his grandchildren compete. He was a strong Waldorf supporter and enjoyed attending the association meetings.

Joel is survived by his children and their spouses: JoAnn Tordoff and husband Russel of Glenville, Noel Holtan and wife Joyce of Forest City, Iowa, Marlys Andersen and husband Dean of Rake, Iowa, Carole Kettwick and husband Mike of Buffalo Center, Iowa, and Valere Holtan and wife Sandy of Forest City, Iowa; 17 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Also, a son-in-law, Randy Holland and his wife Joan of Albert Lea; two brothers: Herbert Holtan of Lake Mills, Iowa, and Boyd Holtan of Core, W. Va., and a brother-in-law, Lloyd Lovik of Bullhead City, Ariz.

Joel was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Genevieve; his daughter, Alice; a grandson, Tyler; a sister, Mavis Lovik; and a brother, Wayne Holtan.