I.J. Holton, 92
Published 10:12 am Friday, April 13, 2012
I.J. “Jim” Holton, 92, died at his home in Austin, Minn., on Wednesday, April, 11, 2012.
Jim was born Aug. 16, 1919, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Ed Bacon and Mabel Barrows (Donnan) Holton. He was married to Adelaide Roeder on June 23, 1941, in Cedar Rapids.
Educated in the public schools of Cedar Rapids, Jim later was awarded degrees in liberal arts (1941) and law (1947) from the University of Iowa at Iowa City, Iowa.
Jim served in the Army, Infantry, from June 1941 to December 1945. He arrived in England in March 1944 and departed for France on the night of June 5-6, 1944. He returned to the United States in July 1945.
Jim was employed in various capacities by Hormel Foods Corporation from 1947 to 1983. He was a member of the Hormel Foundation from 1969 to 1995 and served as its chairman the final year.
Jim was an avid reader, compulsive walker, and sometimes a rider of bicycles. On rare occasions, he was mistaken for an intellectual. He was active in community, industry, and charitable affairs and his longtime local interests included the Austin Community Scholarship Committee (807 W. Oakland Ave., Austin) and the Austin Public Library (323 Fourth Ave. N.E., Austin).
He was preceded in death by his wife, Adelaide.
He is survived by a son, Brooks Holton, Minneapolis; two daughters and sons in law, Janet Holton (Philip Haber), Reston, Va., and Ann (Mark) Paparella; one sister, Carol Parliament, Bloomington, Minn.; three grandchildren; and three nephews.
Friends may greet the family in the banquet area of the Hormel Historic Home on Sunday, April 15, 2012, starting at 1:30 p.m. At 2:30 p.m. there will be a time of memories of Jim’s life led by Father Paul Nelson and Mike Ruzek. A reception will follow. Clasen-Jordan Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.