Hollis Duane King
Hollis Duane King
Hollis Duane King
April 14, 1926 – November 26, 2019
Sigourney (What Cheer), Iowa | Age 93
Served With Honor ~ United States Military Veteran
Hollis King, 93 of Sigourney and formerly of What Cheer passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, November 26, 2019 at the Manor House Care Center in Sigourney. Hollis Duane King was born on April 14, 1926 to Robert Lyle King and Mary Ruth (Crowder) King.
Hollis grew up in Valley Junction, Iowa where his father owned and operated a small grocery store. Hollis graduated from Roosevelt High School in Des Moines.
Hollis was called to the service in June of 1944 serving in WWII and called back to service in October of 1951 during the Korean Conflict.
After he was honorably discharged, Hollis settled in What Cheer, Iowa where he met and married Dorothy Jean Allison. To this union two daughters were born.
After the death of his mother, his father came to live with them. His father, Robert, purchased what became known as King’s Grocery and together they operated the store until Robert’s death in 1962. The store was then sold and Hollis and Dorothy began their 25-year operation of a small restaurant called The Dairy Sweet where they employed many high school students over the years. Noon specials, five hamburgers for a dollar, car hops, and soft serve ice cream were a few of the highlights. Over the years, Hollis worked in many small-town grocery stores. He especially enjoyed working at Chase’s in Keota. After a fire at the Dairy Sweet in 1974, they sold the business and moved wherever his employment led them settling in Atlantic, West Union and Knoxville.
Hollis was a fifty-year member of the Masonic Lodge, the What Cheer United Methodist Church, a charter member of the What Cheer Lions Club and Kaaba Shriners. He loved his trains and traveled to all the surrounding train shows. After Dorothy passed away, Hollis moved to Oskaloosa where he was active in the train club and made many wonderful friends.
Hollis is survived by his daughters: Valerie Jean (& James) McCulley of rural Barnes City and Mary Elizabeth (& Loren) Schmidt of Keswick; his nine grandchildren: Michael Lally of Tiffin, Jerad (& Kate) Lally of Flower Mound, TX, Whitney Bunn of Gibson, Nathan (& Alexa) McCulley of Grinnell, Heather (& Phil) Hunt of Guthrie Center, Iowa, Amber (& Josh) Miller of Bondurant, Lynea (& Chris) Gehrking of rural Keswick, Brooke Schmidt of Des Moines and Cathrine Schmidt of Minneapolis; 17 great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Judith Goldberg of Richland, Washington and Nancy Culbertson of Star, Idaho. Hollis is also survived by a very special person, Martha Schlicht with whom they shared their love of trains and caring friendship.
Hollis was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 52 years, Dorothy; his parents, Robert and Mary King; one sister, Faith K. Moore; and one brother, Verlyn King.
Hollis was a devoted husband, a good father, a loving grandfather, a caring companion and a friend to all. Truly a “people person” he would be humbled and honored to be remembered with a smile and a wave.
Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Monday, December 2, 2019 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Chapel in What Cheer.
Burial will be held in the Sixteen Cemetery near Thornburg.
Visitation will begin after 1:00 pm Sunday, December 1, 2019 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Chapel in What Cheer with the family present from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Memorial contributions may be made to the What Cheer United Methodist Church or the Manor House Care Center.
