James Holan

MARION -- James Joseph Holan Jr., 64, husband of Linda Petty Holan and father of Gina Hostetler, James Holan III, Angela Swiatkowski and Anthony Holan, lost his battle with heart disease Saturday, March 10, 2012. He died peacefully in Naples, Fla. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, in Blue Funeral Home in Marion with the Rev. Craig Hostetler and the Rev. Oral Lee Perry officiating. Military rights and burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. James was born March 19, 1947, in Chicago, the son of James and Helen Holan and the older brother of John Frank Holan. He was a graduate of Bogan High School in Chicago and a graduate of Grear Technical Institute. James was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War, where he served as a specialist in the 11th Armored Calvary Black Horse Regiment 1st Squadron D Company. After being honorably discharged, he worked as a successful diesel mechanic and supervisor for BeMac Transporta-tion in Chicago. He enjoyed life as a loving and faithful husband, father and grandfather. He relocated to Southern Illinois in 1988 and spent his later years serving God as a minister, licensed through Full Gospel Churches International. He volunteered his ministry service to the Marion VA Nursing Home, as well as various homeless shelters and churches in the Southern Illinois area. He resided in southwest Florida for the last year and a half. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Helen Holan. James is mourned by his wife, Linda of Bonita Springs, Fla.; brother, John and Candace Holan of Orland Park; children, Gina and Craig Hostetler of Herrin, James and Marie Holan of Marion, Angela and Paul Swiatkowski of Herrin and Anthony Holan of Herrin; and grandchildren, Nicholas Perry, Mary Hostetler, Max Hostetler, Michael Burley, Cori Burley, James Holan, John Holan, Mariah Manis, Allison Swiatkowski, Hanna Stephens, Toni Jo Holan and Graci Holan.