John G. Holian, Sr.
April 4, 1926 - October 4, 2015

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John G. Holian, 89 of Monticello passed away at his home, Sunday October 4, 2015. He was born April 4, 1926 in Chicago, IL to the late William Alvin Holian and Sarah Agnes Mullarkey Holian. He was also preceded in death by the mother of his children, Mary Lila Lea Douglas Holian and his second wife, Eleanor Sullivan Holian; and one brother, Donald Francis Holian.

In the spring of 1943 John enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a gunners mate protecting supply ships aiding in the allied war effort. After the war he held various jobs before attending nursing school at St. Luke’s Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. During this time, he was selected into a nurse anesthesia program from which he graduated in 1952. John entered the Air Force in 1954 and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant. During his career he was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, the U.S. Military Hospital, Chateroux, France, Tyndall AFB, Panama City, Florida, MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida and Sheppard AFB, Wichita Falls, TX. He retired in 1974 reaching the rank of Lt. Colonel. In 1967 John was deployed to South Vietnam as a member of the twelve man surgical team at Can Tho, Vietnam. During the 1968 Lunar New Year assault known as the TET Offensive, Major Holian and his teammates performed 756 major surgical operations over a twenty-eight day period while under attack by the North Viet Cong Army. Upon retiring Lt. Col. Holian entered into private practice in Florida before relocating to Monticello in 1975.

When John moved to Monticello, he instantly fell in love with the woods, backwaters, rivers and lakes of South Arkansas and attempted to fish every body of water he could find. He appreciated the rural life, the slow pace, southern cooking, and the peace and calm he was never able to experience as a younger man living in the city.

Survivors include his wife, Joann Edington Holian of Monticello; five sons, John G. Holian, Jr. of Monticello, Peter D. Holian, and wife Ruth of Syracuse, N.Y., Mark T. Holian of Spring, TX; Daniel Holian and wife Theresa of Azle, TX and Phillip A. Holian of Tichnor, AR; one daughter, Linda Pond and husband Randy of Azle, TX; two step-sons, Steve Sullivan and wife, Tammy of Monticello and Samuel D. Grisham and wife Kelli of Marion, OH; four step-daughters, Belinda Akin of Monticello, Jane Kelly and husband David of Monticello, Cathy Cash and husband, Mike of Camden, Carolyn A. Baker of Nettleton, MS; fifteen grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, one brother, William A. Holian of Hampton Bays, NY and one sister, Patricia O’Conner of Ozone Park, NY.

Funeral Service will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 8 at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel. Burial will be in Rock Springs Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time. Online guestbook www.stephensondearman.com.