Martha Holvik Martha Holvik, 94, died Thursday, July 10, 2014, at New Aldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her older brother, Daynor Tharalson, Jr., and her husband, Karl Holvik. Martha was born in Litchfield, Minnesota, on July 1, 1920, the daughter of Daynor N. and Linda M. (Peterson) Tharalson. She displayed a talent for music at an early age and became proficient at the piano and violin. In 1936 she wrote the music for the Litchfield High School Rouser (fight song), which LHS uses to this day. After earning a degree in music at the University of Minnesota, she taught for two years in New Ulm, Minnesota. She then attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she met her future husband, Karl Holvik, also a Minnesota native. After Eastman, Martha taught for a year at Central College in Fayette, Missouri. She and Karl were married in 1947, and moved to Cedar Falls when Karl accepted a position at the Iowa State Teachers College.
Martha was very active in the Cedar Valley musical community, directing church choirs, playing viola with the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony and the UNI String Quartet, teaching piano, violin and voice private lessons, and conducting the orchestras at Peet Jr. High and Cedar Falls High School. She also appeared as a vocal soloist with the Metropolitan Chorale and at Nazareth Lutheran Church. She joined the UNI faculty in 1972, where she founded and led the UNI Suzuki Program until she retired as an Assistant Professor of Viola and Theory in 1986. In 2012 she was inducted into the UNI School of Music Hall of Fame.
Martha developed a wide circle of friends through her musical activities as well as her memberships in organizations including PEO, Nineteenth Century Club, LMI, and Martha Circle at Nazareth. Her friends were a constant source of joy to her, and sustained her throughout her life. All who knew Martha will miss her indefatigable spirit and sense of humor, and her wonderful ability to teach us, nurture us, and encourage us. The bright light she brought to the world will continue to shine in all who were privileged to know and love her. Martha treasured her family above all else, and was thrilled to have great-grandchildren. She is survived by her daughters Linda Holvik (Philip Tetzloff) of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Karen Holvik of Boston, Massachusetts; a grandson, Michael Tetzloff (Emily) and children, Olivia, Aidan and Charlie, of Centennial, Colorado; Philip's son, David Tetzloff (Julie) and children, Harper and Everett of Bexley, Ohio; nephews Nick Tharalson and Tom Holvik; niece Kathy Tharalson Higa; and Martha's many friends, former students, and colleagues.
Friends are invited to a visitation from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Sunday, August 3, 2014, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home in Cedar Falls. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 4, 2014, at Nazareth Lutheran Church. Memorials may be directed to: UNI Foundation-Martha Holvik Endowed Fund for the Suzuki School, Northeast Iowa Food Bank, and Nazareth Lutheran Church.
From an obituary posted on the Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home on-line site; downloaded February 23, 2015.