Kathleen Dorian (Mrs. LeRoy) Holmes (nee Tuominen)
Kathleen Dorian (Mrs. LeRoy) Holmes (nee Tuominen), age 75 of Lake Vermilion, Tower died Sunday, June 13, in St. Michael’s Health & Rehabilitation Center after receiving treatments for cancer. Kathleen was born December 25, 1934 in Virginia, the daughter of Richard and Helen (Heikkila) Tuominen. She grew up and attended school in Tower-Soudan, graduating from high school in 1953, went to work in Virginia for Henly’s Café and the Cluett-Peabody Shirt Factory. Kathy enlisted in the U S Army serving two years, and was honorably discharged August 17, 1956 at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. She graduated from Mesabi Jr. College, Gustavus Adolphus College, and the University of Minnesota, Mpls., with a Degree in Elementary Education. On June 6, 1959, LeRoy Holmes and Kathleen Tuominen were united in marriage at Augustana Lutheran Church (Immanuel Lutheran) in Tower. The couple resided in Mpls. while her husband attended Augsburg College and Northwestern Lutheran Seminary. Kathleen taught in the White Bear Schools during that time. She also taught Special Education in the Gilbert Schools and St. Louis County Schools prior to her work with the State of Minnesota. Kathleen retired while serving with the DNR in St. Paul as a financial officer.
Kathleen was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, active in the Tower-Soudan Historical Society serving as their secretary, and also was a committee member for the cemetery project to upgrade records, Lakeview Cemetery web site ofor the city of Tower, plus adding visual section numbers and streets for the cemetery to make locations of the burials clear to family and friends. She was an active proponent of a healthy life style, providing pedometers for walking, going to “Tops” for encouragement and sharing, working out at the Braaton’s Exercise Shop in Tower, and enjoying a walk from time to time to Soudan and Tower back to her 5803 Puncher Point home. Kathy, like her mother was a cheerful, friendly person, who had a smile for everyone she met. A hobby for travel began as a Pastor’s wife who served in many different ways in the congregations they were called to Minister and visit through fifty-one years of marriage. Kathy’s faith and trust in Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord was the foundation for the family she loved and cared for plus the churches and communities she shared with in ministry with her husband LeRoy!
Kathleen is survived by her husband, Rev. LeRoy Holmes; daughters: Dori Anne Holmes of Bethel Seminary, St. Paul, MN, Karleen Joy Wildes of Shoreview, MN, and Lisa Marie (David) Ledman, of Lino Lakes, MN; grandchildren, Jason Eggers (Lindsey), Joshua Eggers, Kristi Ledman, Justin Ledman, Alec Wildes, and Matt Wildes; siblings, Sharon (Dave) Cina of Cushing, MN, Richard (Bonnie) Tuominen, Jr. of Saginaw, MN, and Lee (Greta) Tuominen of Hemet, CA; numerous extended Tuominen and Heikkila family members; and a host of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
A Gathering time for family and friends will be held on Wednesday, June 16th from 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. Memorial Celebration of Life Service in the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tower. Pastor Aaron Lofgren will officiate. The organist will be Mary Beth Reller who will also sing: “On Eagles Wings!” Pastor Lofgren also will sing the hymn: “My God How Wonderful Thou Art”; and congregational hymns will be: “Blessed Assurance” and “Savior, Again to Your Dear Name We Raise”. Pastor Berhanu will lead the congregation in a responsive reading from Psalm 103. Pastor Mel Johnson will share the obituary and family heritage plus Kathy’s oldest daughter will share some personal remembrances. Inurnment will follow in the Lakeview Cemetery in Tower. Military Honors will be accorded by the Nelson-Jackson American Legion Post # 245 of Tower. The women of Immanuel Lutheran will serve a lunch following the committal.
Memorials are preferred.
Family Services provided by Bauman-Vermilion, A Bauman Family Funeral Home in Tower. To share personal remembrances of Kathy online, please see: www.baumanfuneralhome.com.
