Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008 | midnight
For the 17 years the Rev. Guy Holliday presided over Grace Community Church, he never told anybody what to think about anything, Bill Cottrell, a member of the church said.
"But he gave them a lot to think about," Cottrell said.
The namesake of Holliday Hall, the former residence of the pastor that now serves as offices, died Aug. 31 at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in Waupaca, Wis., at the age of 85.
Holliday and his family first came to Grace Community Church and Boulder City in 1961.
"He was an interesting guy for a lot of reasons," Cottrell said. Holliday had considered practicing law before becoming a minister. "I think that is what made him not your run-of-the-mill minister," Cottrell said.
As is the practice in the Methodist Church, pastors are reassigned every three or four years, and Holliday intended to leave Grace twice to serve churches elsewhere, but the congregation always protested. In 1978, Guy decided there was nothing more he could give to his congregation in Boulder City and moved with his family to another church.
According to Cottrell, many people in Boulder City joined the church solely because of Holliday, and "when he left, they left. Some of them never joined another church."
Holliday's family recalled his "Letters to God," which they say, "spoke eloquently of the questions so many have about this life, and served as a conduit for discourse and understanding."
Holliday was born April 23, 1923, in Janesville, Wis., to the late Rev. Ralph R. and Jessie Holliday. He attended Lawrence University and then went on to Garrett Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill.
Besides serving Grace Community Church, he also served as pastor at the Methodist Church in Yorkville and Wautoma, Wis., and Long Beach, Calif. He served in the military in World War II.
His family described him as a life-long Chicago Cubs fan, saying that if the Cubs ever win the pennant, Holliday will be cheering along with all the fans.
Holliday is survived by his wife of 62 years, Jean Holliday; daughters Kris Holliday of Emmett, Idaho, and Sukie Page and husband, Joel, of Cheyenne, Wyo.; son Mark Holliday and wife, Terry, of Waupaca; grandchildren Britt, Cindy and Tim Forrester, Lauren Behm, and husband, Jeremy, Whitney Chandler and Katie Holliday; five great-grandchildren; nephews Paul and Greg Christensen; and special family friend, Shirley Bridges.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Rev. Guy Holliday Ministries Memorial Fund, c/o Farmers State Bank of Waupaca, 112 W. Fulton St. PO Box 289, Waupaca, WI 54981.
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