Obituary of John H. Holtz

John (Jack) Howard Holtz November 9, 1937 – July 20, 2021 It’s cliché to refer to the sun setting on someone’s life as they pass away. Anything but a cliché, Jack Holtz took his exit as the sun rose on July 20, 2021. Jack, 83, was surrounded by his wife of 63 years, Jacqueline, his loving children, and grandchildren during his final hours. In typical “Pop” fashion, he told them, “I love all of you so damn much.” Jack was born at Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Neptune, NJ, known now as Jersey Shore Medical Center, to Marguerite and Elmer Holtz. He called Freehold N.J. his hometown for most of his life. Jack earned the title of United States Marine in 1958 and served proudly, attaining the rank of Sergeant. In 1959 he was selected as the “poster Marine,” photographed with New York Giants star running back Kyle Rote for the annual “Toys For Tots” drive. His grandson Matt would follow him into the Marine Corps two generations later. Semper Fi! Jack was a talented masonry craftsman. Following his Honorable Discharge from the Marines, Jack joined the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Union of New Jersey. Later he started his own masonry business, until joining Jocama Construction Corp. of Old Bridge, NJ where he served as a vice president. His proudest design-build project was the home he built on Asbury Ave. in Freehold in 1987. Jack and Jackie enjoyed traveling, with Italy, Ireland, and Hawaii among their favorite trips. They also spent many years enjoying their house on Seneca Lake in Upstate New York. When not traveling, Jack could be found in his workshop building something or tending to his many gardens and plants surrounding his home. Jack will be forever remembered for his dry humor, his Archie Bunker worldview, and his love and deep devotion to his family. Jack was a diehard Giants and Yankees fan. In addition to his wife, Jack is survived by his children and their spouses, John (Debbie Borie-Holtz), Jean Ann (Jack Loprete), James (Kay Poklemba), and Jeffrey (Maura McNamara), grandchildren, in birth order, Caitlin (Antonio Antunes), Kelsey (fiancé Ben Ostner), Matthew (Lauren Miller), Maggie , Bethany, Meghan, Conor, Emily, Reilly, Molly, and Maddie, and three adorable great-grandchildren: MacKenzie, Kane, and Amalia Jane, as well as his siblings: Robert (Theresa), Kathleen Fredericks, Michael, and Mary Lynn (John Cowie), along with many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Higgins Memorial Home in Freehold on Monday, July 26 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Rose of Lima Church in Freehold on Tuesday, July 27 at 11 a.m., followed by a ceremony at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Cemetery in Wrightstown NJ at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Spastic Paraplegia Foundation, www.SP-Foundation.org, on behalf of two of Jack’s grandchildren.