Geraldine “Geri” Joan Holladay
Geraldine “Geri” Joan Holladay
Cedar Rapids
Geraldine “Geri” Joan Holladay, 91, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at Saint Luke’s Transitional Care Center. The Funeral Mass will be held at 10 A.M. on Monday, June 10, 2024, at Saint Pius X Catholic Church by Father Jon Seda. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 P.M. Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 2nd Street S.E., Cedar Rapids.
Geri is survived by her husband of 68 years, Ronald “Doc”; children, Norm of Cedar Rapids, Janiece of Kanab, Utah and Lee (Lisa) of Marion; grandchildren, Jasmine (Jason), Mackenzie (Kory), Cera (Randy), Christan (Josh), Jessica, Andrew (Kelsey), and Ryan; great-grandchildren, Mason, Floyd, Savannah, Theodore, Serenity and Rayden. Geri is also survived by sisters, Jan Fedderson and Patricia Gambaiani.
She was preceded in death by her son, Corey, in 2014; her parents and siblings, Vernon Schmidt, Laverne Caslavka, Elaine Boddicker and Doris Kintzel.
Geri was born April 22, 1933 on the family farm near Watkins, Iowa, the fifth child of Theodore George and Rosetta Marie Schmidt. Following graduation from Norway High School, she moved to Cedar Rapids and began working for Collins Radio in the Cherry Building. Geri retired from there in 1989 after over 30 years. Here she met the love of her life, Ronald Gene Holladay. Geri and Ron were married on October 17, 1955 at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church in Watkins and made their home in Cedar Rapids where they raised their four children.
Family and faith were the center of Geri’s world. She was a very spiritual person, making time to pray and read the Bible first thing every morning.
She was the biggest fan at any of her children or grandchildren’s events and was a longtime, active member and volunteer at Saint Pius X Church. Geri and Ron enjoyed bus trips to casinos. Most mornings one could find them at the Rockwell Rec Center, where they made numerous friends.
She and Ron enjoyed dancing at various area dance halls, such as Danceland and Ar-Mar Ballrooms. Geri enjoyed being in the kitchen cooking and planning meals. She loved to bake especially around the holidays and gift the goodies that she made to family and friends as she was a very giving person. She loved to visit with family and friends and was a very good listener.
Geri’s family especially wishes to thank the staff at Saint Luke’s Transitional Care Center that cared for Geri the past few months and Unity Point Hospice for their care at the end.