A sudden yet peaceful death, on January 29th, 2020, took our father Horst Wilhelm (Bill) Holl from us, just eleven months after the loss of his beloved wife Rita Holl.
Bill was born February 18th, 1940 in Hamburg, Germany as an only child and grew up in the region. He avoided conscription by moving to Switzerland and from there started to ‘travel the world’. Trained as an Electrician he moved to Canada in the early 60s working in areas such as Labrador and Baffin Island. USA and Mexico followed, where he got married to Rita in early 1970 and later in the year settled back in Germany to start a family. His children Natalie and Eric were born 5 years apart in the 70s and Bill worked as a Sales Associate and later Sales Director for a company dealing Fiber Optics. In 1989 he decided to move back to Canada with his family and start his own business in Bolton focusing on surgical instruments and rehabilitation equipment. In retirement he became a grandfather of Alena (10) and Elias (2).
He will be remembered as a man full of vitality, seeing life as a learning journey, always ready for a joke, being there for his friends & family and especially being a very caring husband to Rita. Throughout his life his hobbies included languages, travelling, stamp collecting, gardening, tennis and of course spending time with friends.
In keeping with Bill’s wishes, a cremation has taken place.
As his is a life to be celebrated, not to be mourned (he would wholeheartedly agree with this), the family will receive family and close friends at their home (97 Connaught Cr.), on Tuesday, Feb 18th at 11:30 a.m. for a ‘Celebration of life ‘Party’’ as it would have been his 80th Birthday.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to the MS Society of Canada.
Condolences for the family may be offered at www.EganFuneralHome.com
Heather Ellis
Your Dad Bill was a Brilliant, Wonderful Man. My late Husband Craig played tennis with him at the Bolton Tennis Club and Bill would often stop in at our Home on Humber Station Rd when he was out cycling. We always enjoyed his little visits. My deepest condolences goes out to your Family.
Ben
Eric, I want to express my deep condolences to you and your relatives on these sad days .
After reading about your father’s life, it seems he did a lot and he enjoyed..
What I do know is that he, with Rita, grew up you, Eric, with values and integrity. Now this will follow in the life cycle and you will grow up Elias with the same….
Strong hug for you my friend.
Maik Kukulies and Alena Holl
Dear Nati, dear Eric,
deeply moved by the blows of fate life had to offer the Holl family within just one year, I am sending you our deepest condolences.
Somehow there is a vision that Horst can now take care of Rita again, both freed from all heavy burdens of the fleshly life, just them in peace.
While I trust both of you will keep up the “Holl values” in this current world, the most invaluable fruits of your parents seeds is living on via you. So you’re never alone, still a bit more accure in this cycle of life.
Life is not rational, nether fair and nobody can fully understand…still it’s a wonderful thing.
“Wenn ein Blatt, irgendein Blatt vom Baume fällt
Weil der Herbstwind es so bestimmt
Wenn das Schicksal uns etwas nimmt
Vertraue der Zeit
Denn immer, immer wieder geht die Sonne auf
Und wieder bringt ein Tag für uns ein Licht”
Big hugs from Alena & Maik.
Fiona Stackhouse
So sorry to hear about your father passing – he will be sadly missed by the Wednesday Spanish class at the Caledon Senior’s Centre – He was always so helpful & knowledgeable on the language- sometimes even correcting the teacher Catalina !! He also had a great sense of humour & was often telling jokes in English as well as Spanish- for those who understood!! Although I only knew him a short time I could tell he was a very interesting & kind man & I’m sure your family must be devastated- having lost both of your parents in less than 1 year – our sympathies are with you and the rest of your family!! Fiona Stackhouse & family Bolton ,Ontario
ANDRENA JACKSON
Dear Eric and Natalie
My sincere condolences to you and your family. Bill was a great neighbour and friend. I always enjoyed our chats and loved listening to all his travel adventures and the people he met along the way. Many summer nights he would come and sit on my porch with my friends for a cold drink and a visit and we would have endless chats mostly about gardening. He taught me quite a lot about planting vegetables which he loved. I miss him already.
Andrena
barnie seguin
Eric &Nati On behalf of The Bolton Tennis Club our condolences on the sudden passing you father. He was a long time member and I remember when you young people use to play at the club with your Dad and various groups. Bill use to keep me updated on his children and there travel . I use to meet Bill for coffee , just four weeks ago, always a joke to tell and talk of the grand kids. He was fun to play tennis with and will be missed . Barnie Seguin Bolton Tennis Club
Patricia Blakely
I shall miss Horst’s phone calls that happened on my birthday and his upbeat good humour. To all members of Horst’s family, my condolences. Somewhere, up there, Horst will join in on his birthday party and he will be smiling.
Meike
Dear Nati,
I think of you and send you my deepest condolences for the loss of your beloved dad.
I hope that for you, Alena, your brother, wider family and friends the positive memories about the big and small Moments you experienced together will soon outweigh the sadness about his sudden death. What a gift to be able to say that his life has been one to be celebrated.
I wish you lots of strength and confidence, and a wonderful, consoling Celebration of life Party for your Dad.
Big hug, your friend Meike
Robyn Hunter & Michael Skinner
It was somewhat of a shock to hear the news that Horst had passed away. We knew him as a healthy and vibrant person who always had a story to tell. We met Horst and Rita through Irmgard, Rita’s sister, when they first came to Canada. Natalie and Eric were small children then. Although we did not see them often, Horst and Rita were always welcoming and generous. We shall miss the barrage of e-mails Horst frequently fired off about a variety of topics.
Our thoughts go out to you, Natalie and Eric, and to the other members of your family for the sad loss of Rita and Horst within such a short time of one another. Our sincere condolences.
Horst – and Rita too – would enjoy so much the celebration of life you have planned. Their spirits will, no doubt, be swirling around the party and will live on in the host of great memories you have.
Mira Sampson
Dear family,
I share the sorrow of losing your dad, brother, grandfather Horst. My mom and dad died this time of year and life hasn’t been the same for me and my brother. It will not be the same for you Natalie and Eric. But you will always find comfort in your memories of them and sharing those memories with your own families, with your children. I cherish memories of shared meals and laughter with Rita, Horst and their family and friends. May they rest in peace together now.
Petra & Familie
Liebe Natalie & Familie
Es bewegt mich sehr mitzuerleben, wie Ihr in so kurzer Zeit Eure liebe Mutter und nun auch Euren Vater gehen lassen musstet. Ich durfte ihn als sehr offenen und lebensfrohen Menschen bei einem Besuch in Deutschland kennenlernen, vor allem aber durch die vielen Erzählungen von Dir habe ich ein sehr lebendiges Bild von Deinem Vater in meinem Kopf. Ich weiß, wie viel er Dir bedeutet hat. Auch wenn man selber in der Mitte des Lebens steht und seine eigene Familie gegründet hat, so bleiben Eltern immer die Eltern. Sie bieten Sicherheit, Vertrautheit und Geborgenheit. Sie sind ein emotionales Zuhause. Ich mag mir nicht ausmalen, wir schwer es fällt, diesen Verlust zu akzeptieren.
Ich wünsche Euch ganz viel Kraft und die Fähigkeit, an den schönen Erinnerungen festzuhalten und die schönen Momente aufleben zu lassen, so dass Schmerz und Kummer bald durch fröhliche Erinnerungen ersetzt werden. So wie Du ihn immer beschrieben hast bin ich mir sicher, dass Euer Vater und Großvater Euch nicht traurig sehen möchte, sondern fröhlich und dankbar für die wunderschöne Zeit, die Ihr gemeinsam verbringen durftet.
Ich wäre sehr gerne in seinem Andenken und als Stütze für Dich bei der (Trauer-)Feier dabei und es tut mir leid, dass die Entfernung mich daran hindert. In Gedanken bin ich bei Euch und schicke meine tiefe Anteilnahme an Dich und Deine Familie.
Sei fest umarmt,
Deine Petra & Familie
Nadine & Axel Gelhot mit Mattis, Liv & Janne
So happy we were able to meet him with us here in Germany just over Christmas, so sad he passed away so sudden. Our deep condolences and big hug to the family – our thoughts is with you…
Josef & Sabine Hugger, 88525 Hailtingen/Süddeutschland
Liebe Natalie & Familie,
ich habe viele Jahre mit deinem Vater zusammen gearbeitet. Er war unser Partner für den Vertrieb unserer MOTOmed Bewegungstherapiegeräte in Kanada. Ich kann mich an viele interessante und lange Telefongespräche mit ihm erinnern. Wir, und unsere gemeinsamen Kunden, konnten uns immer auf ihn verlassen. Wir haben natürlich auch nicht vergessen als meine Familie und ich Euch einmal in Toronto besucht haben. Nachträglich nochmals vielen Dank auch an Dich für die tolle Führung damals. Meine Familie und ich werden das nie vergessen.
Wir beten für Deine verstorbenen Eltern und für Eure Familie und wollen nochmals unsere aufrichtige Anteilnahme zum Ausdruck bringen. Bleibt gesund!