Willis "Tuffy" Holland
Obituaries
- September 23, 2016
Willis "Tuffy" Holland, 82 of Greeley, husband, friend, companion, father, grandfather, mentor, colleague, successful businessman, fisherman, Western art enthusiast, patriot, pilot, pen maker and so much more, passed away on Thursday, September 22, 2016.
Tuffy , was born February 28, 1934, in Glenwood Springs, CO to John Lewis and Kitty Irene Heyer Holland. The family resided in Wolcott at the time. His early years were spent in Wolcott, Alma, Springfield and Holly, CO. His father John was drafted during World War II, and while he served in the Navy and Tuffy’s mother Kitty worked in a war plant, Tuffy and his brother Jack lived with their grandparents, John J. and Mary Ellen "Nell" Holland in Wolcott. Some of Tuffy’s fondest memories were of those years spent on the sheep ranch in Wolcott. When John came home from the Navy the family moved to Wheatridge, CO, where Tuffy and his brother Jack later attended Wheatridge High School.
In both high school and college, Tuffy excelled in sports. In high school, he was a tackle on the football team, a State Championship wrestler during his senior year, and also competed in track and field. He then attended Colorado A&M on a football scholarship but also competed in wrestling. Tuffy was named as an All-American Wrestler twice during his time at CSU, qualified for the NCAA championships three times, and twice finished fourth at the championships. In 2013, Tuffy was honored by being inducted into the CSU Sports Hall of Fame for his college wrestling and football career, an honor which was very meaningful to him.
During his junior year at A&M Tuffy met his future wife, Shirley Smith. They married September 18, 1955 at the beginning of their senior year, and spent the next 61 years together. Their first daughter Kristi was born soon after graduation while living in Pueblo, and Tuffy was working at PABCO Fiberboard in Florence, CO. Shortly thereafter, Tuffy fulfilled his ROTC obligations by spending three years in the Army, which included a tour in Germany. Daughter Kitty arrived during the stay in Germany and Kim immediately on the return to Pueblo, CO. Leslie arrived five years later.
These four lovely daughters surrounded him with love and care during the past two years as he fought his long battle with cancer -- Kristi, Mrs. Gary Martin of Aurora, CO; Kitty Holland of Greeley, CO; Kim, Mrs. Anthony Jackowski of Olathe, KS; and Leslie, Mrs. Jeffrey Fuller also of Olathe.
Tuffy was bigger than life, a big man with a bigger heart, often described as a gentle giant. He had a strong work ethic, lived a life of honesty and integrity, and inspired that in others. He greatly valued the benefits and opportunity that come with an education, and took great pride in being able to see that all of his grandchildren have received a college education...."We have just one yet to go".
Tuffy took a small chemical distribution company started by his father-in-law Harlen Smith and turned it into a million, then multi-million dollar company, Pueblo Chemical Company. As the company grew, the family moved to Garden City, KS in 1974. Pueblo Chemical merged with Balcom Chemical Company of Greeley, which then loosely formed United Agri Products, and was eventually sold to Conagra. In 1984, Tuffy and Shirley moved to Greeley, CO, where he continued to serve as a vice president with UAP, retiring in 1999 after 39 years in the ag industry. Upon retiring, Tuffy got involved with the Greeley Stampede as one of the founders of the Stampede Western Art Show, an extension of his and Shirley's passion for collecting Western art, which continued throughout his life. Tuffy also decided to try his hand at wood turning when he retired, becoming an accomplished pen turner, practicing his craft in his garage workshop. Through his association with the group Freedom Pens, he crafted just short of 10,000 pens for our service men and women serving our country in the Middle East.
Preceding him in death were his parents and his beloved grandparents, John J. and Mary Ellen "Nell" Holland of Wolcott, who helped raise him during his father's tour with the Navy. He is survived by his wife, daughters, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren --- Michael Martin and his wife Jeannie of Aurora, CO; John Erik Martin, wife Sarah and their daughters Aribelle and Ariana of Fort Collins, CO; Danielle Fuller, Samantha Fuller, Ryan Jackowski and Tyler Jackowski of the Kansas City area; Sarah Bellout of San Diego, CA; and Adam Bellout of Greeley, CO. Tuffy is also survived by his brother Jack Holland of Las Vegas, his Uncle Bill Holland and wife Ann Holland of the Phoenix area, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Sunday, October 9, 2016 at the Greeley Country Club.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Art Scholarship Fund operated by the Greeley Stampede Foundation, a 501-C3 non-profit organization. Donations should be made payable to the Greeley Stampede Foundation (with a note referencing the Art Scholarship Fund). Donations sent through Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th St., Greeley, CO, will be acknowledged to the family and forwarded to the scholarship fund. Friends may view the online obituary and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.
