Obituary of Jean C. Holtz Siebarth
Jean Carolyn Holtz was born on September 11, 1939, in Wyandotte, Michigan to Philip Holtz and Ruth Herkimer. She was an unbelievable blessing to her parents, since they had been told they could never have children.
On her first birthday, Jean was presented with a beautiful two-layer cake decorated with pink and green icing. There must have been another cake to eat because this one was never cut and had been displayed with prominence as it became petrified over the years. It remained a proud possession of Jean’s throughout her life.
Jean was raised in dual homes. One in Hudson, Michigan, where her father taught school and the second on the family farm on Day Road in Maybee, Michigan. She graduated from Hudson High School and continued her education at Eastern Michigan University. Jean taught art at Hudson School until she met the love of her life, Keith Siebarth, at the farm. Jean and Keith married on June 8, 1963, in Hudson. She followed him to Virginia while he proudly served his country in the Armed Forces.
They eventually made their home on the Holtz Christmas Tree Plantation and for many decades she personally wrapped an ornament and tied it with a red velvet ribbon, to be given as a gift to each family that purchased a tree to displayed in their home.
Jean was a woman of exceptional accomplishments and was a respected genealogist and a proud DAR member on her paternal side. She was responsible for having the records of her church, St. Paul Lutheran Church in Maybee, translated from German to English. Jean’s maternal family were some of the founding members of this church. She had a phenomenal memory for Maybee events, writing and publishing two books on the founding of the village. Jean and Keith were strong defenders of property rights and successfully challenged various proposals made over the years.
On Monday, September 9, 2024, just two days before her 85th birthday. Jean left her worldly home on that beloved farm to be with Keith in their eternal home. She will be missed by many.
A private burial will be held at Northside Cemetery; 9713 Raisin Street, Maybee, Michigan 48159 on Friday; September 13, 2024. Her care was entrusted to Merkle Funeral Service, Dundee; 297 Tecumseh Street, Dundee, Michigan 48131 (734) 529-3156.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.
