John A. "Jack" Hols was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, on March 14, 1933, the son of John and Edith Hols. He married Norma Thie in Burlington, Iowa. A 1950 graduate of Burlington (Iowa) High School, Jack attended Burlington Junior College and Drake University before graduating from the University of Iowa, where he earned a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in journalism.
Following graduation, he served as publications assistant in the Public Relations Office of the State College of Iowa, now the University of Northern Iowa, and later created and directed the Office of Public Information at Southeast Missouri State College. Mr. Hols then spent the rest of his career as a Foreign Service Officer in the United States Information Agency, with assignments to the US embassies in India, Viet Nam, Ghana, Turkey, and Canada. He also traveled for the Agency in the Middle East.
He retired from the US government in 1989 and moved to Spokane, Washington. In retirement, he was an avid fisherman and bicyclist. In 1974, Mr. Hols was loaned to the Department of Commerce as Director of Public Affairs and Protocol for the U.S. Pavilion at Expo 74 in Spokane. Mr. Hols served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956 and was assigned to the White House Army Signal Agency. He worked in the White House and at Camp David.
He was preceded in death by his father. His survivors include his wife, Norma; his mother, Edith Hols, of Duluth, Minnesota; his daughter Laura (Carson) Toepfer of Spokane, Washington; his son Eric Hols of Ashburn, Virginia; his brother David (Marge) Hols of St. Paul, Minnesota; daughter-in-law Greta Hols of Woodbridge, Virginia; grandchildren Jason (Merridy) Toepfer, Columbus, Georgia; Spencer Toepfer, Arlington, Virginia; Garrett Hols, Arlington, Virginia; Monika Hols, Woodbridge, Virginia; and great grandchildren, Carson and Reilly Toepfer, Columbus, Georgia.
A memorial service will be held Monday, September 25, 2006, 10:00 a.m. at Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home in the Iris Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to 2nd Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest, 1234 E. Front Ave., Spokane, Washington.
Copyright Spokane Spokesman Review, September 17, 2006.