Covenant News

Service Conducted for Willis F. Holmgren

FAIRFAX, VA (February 9, 2004) - FAIRFAX, VA (February 9) – A funeral service was conducted last Friday at Bancroft Bible Church for former Michigan Conference Supt. Willis F. Holmgren, who died on February 4 in Burke, Virginia.

Born January 11, 1917, in Warren, Minnesota, the 87-year-old Holmgren was an Evangelical Covenant Church pastor for nearly four decades, serving in eight churches along with being superintendent from 1960 to 1966 for the former Michigan Conference. That conference later merged with the Mideast Conference to become the Great Lakes Conference.

Holmgren lost his father at age 10 and that experience affected him greatly, according to his son, Dale. "At that point, he turned to the Lord as his father," his son said. Baptized at age 12 in Warren, Holmgren eventually moved to southern California and became a chauffeur. After he enlisted in the military, he became a chaplain and was stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition to his chaplaincy, he conducted tent meetings in the local community. He met his wife, Gertrude "Trudy," at a revival meeting and they were married on September 4, 1943, in Albuquerque. "When he heard her singing voice, he knew he was in love," said Dale recalling the early courtship of his mother and father.

In 1946, Holmgren began ministry at Walnut Grove Covenant Church in Garvey, California, serving two years there. After three years at a Covenant church in San Pedro, California, he came to Chicago and served Lakeview Covenant Church from 1951-53. He also took classes at North Park Theological Seminary during that time, eventually becoming an ordained Covenant pastor in 1954.

After spending one year at Trinity Covenant Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois, Holmgren headed to Dearborn, Michigan, where he was pastor at Dearborn Covenant Church from 1954-60. He returned to Trinity Covenant Church in Oak Lawn and served from 1966-70 after his tenure as superintendent. His final full-time pastorate was at Juanita Covenant Church in Kirkland, Washington, from 1970-75. "Dad's passion was in starting new churches and bringing people to the Lord," said son noted.

Holmgren is survived by his wife of 60 years, Gertrude; a son, Dale (Jane), of San Ramon, California; and a daughter, Susan (Phil), of Fairfax, Virginia, and seven grandchildren. The family plans to set up a memorial fund through the Evangelical Covenant Church Department of Church Growth and Evangelism for those starting church plants in Michigan and Washington.

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