Holter legacy: CMBRG writes $35,000 check to village for municipal building elevator project

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By LeAnn R. Ralph

Editor’s Note: LeAnn R. Ralph serves on the Colfax Elevator Commission.

COLFAX — The Colfax Municipal Building Restoration Group has given a check for $35,000 to the Village of Colfax for the Colfax Municipal Building elevator project.

In 2008, the estate of Colfax residents Dr. G.S. Holter and Mabel Holter donated $30,000 to CMBRG for a major renovation project at the municipal building. 

Since then, the original amount of $30,000 has grown to $35,000.

The $35,000 was already included as a pledged amount in the total of over $150,000 raised by the Colfax Elevator Commission, and the check has been deposited into a restricted account held by the village.

CMBRG invested the $30,000 in certificates of deposits until there was an appropriate project for the money, said Mark Johnson, president of the Colfax Municipal Building Restoration Group.

Johnson also is a member of the Colfax Elevator Commission. 

“It’s my understanding that the Holters hoped the money would be used towards a major restoration or improvement project for the municipal building,” Johnson said. 

Facilities grant 

Earlier this year, based on the recommendation of the elevator commission, the Colfax Village Board contracted with Ayres Associates to write an application for the Flexible Facilities Program grant to install an elevator in the Colfax Municipal Building and to renovate the basement. 

The Flexible Facilities Program grant is for up to $4.25 million and is funded through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund, which was established through the American Rescue Plan of 2021. 

The minimum criteria is that the project must include constructing a new or renovating or expanding an existing library, community center or multi-purpose community facility, and the purchase and/or installation of broadband and/or other digital connectivity technology that provide public access to high speed internet, and directly enable work, education and health monitoring, according www.energyandhousing.wi.gov.

Eligible facilities include libraries, senior citizen centers, youth centers and general community centers.

The Flexible Facilities grant, unlike most other grant programs, does not require any matching funds.

Part of the Flexible Facilities grant application focuses on the need for high-speed internet access, computers and private rooms where area residents can access telehealth services.

Being able to access telehealth services is particularly critical in the rural areas of the Chippewa Valley after the closing earlier this year of HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chippewa Falls and 19 Prevea Clinics. 

Colfax has not had a medical clinic since the Mayo Clinic Health System closed the clinic on July 1, 2016, that had operated in the former nursing home building on High Street. 

Following the grant application for the municipal building, transferring the money donated by the Holters seemed like the next logical step, Johnson said, adding that funds will be needed to pay for architectural costs, and the building will always need funds for restoration, maintenance and improvements. 

“It was time to move the pledged amount to the actual designated elevator fund,” he said. 

Grant awards for the Flexible Facilities funds are expected to be announced October 1.

Dr. G.S. Holter

According to the January 6, 1958, Colfax Messenger, “G.S. Holter, D.C., of Eau Claire, has opened a chiropractic office in the Swift Building on Main Street. A veteran of World War II and the father of a seven year old son, when suitable housing can be found, the family plans to move to Colfax.”

In spite of the June 4, 1958, Colfax tornado and the devastation in the village, the Holters were able to build a house. 

The September 4, 1958, Colfax Messenger states, “Dr. G.S. Holter, chiropractor, who began his practice in Colfax in January of this year, now has taken up permanent residence in the village. He has previously commuted from Eau Claire to his office here, during which time a home has been erected by the Holters in the Larson Addition.”

For the next three decades, the Holters operated the chiropractic clinic.

The April 10, 1986, Colfax Messenger reported, “After 29 years of chiropractic service in Colfax, Dr. G. Holter and his wife, Mabel, have sold their business at 617 Main Street to Dr. G. William Berres as of April 1. Berres and his wife, Joni, have a son,

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Anthony, nine months old.”

The year before the Holters sold the business, their family suffered an unspeakable tragedy.

Saves life — loses own

The July 11, 1985, Colfax Messenger reported under the headline, “Saves life; loses own” —

David S. Holter, Colfax, drowned about 4:30 p.m. July 2 in the Red Cedar River near Felland Park while attempting to rescue a nine year old girl.

Holter, 34, was known to be a good swimmer, according to Dunn County Sheriffs Department investigators and was apparently in the river northwest of Colfax, swimming with a friend, Mike Mullen. The girl, Crystal Marko, daughter of Marla Marko, Colfax, was reported to be wading with friends in shallow water when she wandered into a deeper portion of the river and began calling for help.

Witnesses told investigators that Holter dove into the river, picked Marko out of the deep water and placed her on a rock ledge. He then began having problems himself and went underwater several times in a rapids before disappearing.

Marko was apparently returned to shore by others at the scene, who then searched for Holter and located him approximately three-quarters of a mile downstream.

Dick and Craig Dobbs, sons of Judy and Larry Dobbs, Colfax, were inner-tubing at the scene when the accident occurred and notified the Colfax Rescue Squad. The Rescue Squad then notified the sheriff’s department.

An autopsy was ordered by Dr. Springer, county medical examiner, which determined the cause of Holter’s death was drowning.

Holter, a Colfax resident since the age of seven, was the son of Mabel and G.S. Holter.

Funeral services were July 5 at Colfax Lutheran Church.

Obituary

The same issue of the Colfax Messenger included David Holter’s obituary:

David Scott Holter, 34, Colfax, drowned July 2 while swimming in the Red Cedar River near Felland Park, Colfax.

He was born January 20, 1951, in Chippewa Falls, the son of Gordon and Mabel (Brinkley) Holter. He moved to Colfax at the age of seven.

He was a 1969 graduate of Colfax High School.

He is survived by his parents of Colfax.

Services were July 5 at Colfax Lutheran Church. The Reverend Dean A. Fodness officiated.

Carol Alms was the organist.

Casket bearers included Duane Popple, Mike Mullen, Jim Herrick, Lee Frogner, Tony Braaten, John Haugle and Bill Flatland.

Burial was in Colfax Evergreen Cemetery.

Goodrich Funeral Home, Colfax, was in charge of the arrangements.

Retirement

Dr. and Mrs. Holter spent their retirement years in Colfax. Dr. Holter died in December of 2004.

According to his obituary:

Gordon Syver Holter, age 90, of Colfax, Wis., died Sunday, December 5, 2004, at Area Nursing Home in Colfax.

He was born April 1, 1914, on a farm near New Auburn, Wis., to Christian “Chris” and Signe (Peterson) Holter. As a child he went to schools in Minneapolis, Minn., Rockford, Ill., and graduated from high school in Chippewa Falls, Wis. 

After graduation he moved to Bridgeport, Conn., where he worked for the Underwood Corp. He married Mabel Virginia Brinkley of Lemoyne, Pa., on December 21, 1940, in Bridgeport, Conn. During WWII, part of Underwood Corp. was taken over by Bendix Corp., making airplane parts (for whom he worked). Feeling it was his duty to serve, he volunteered with the U.S. Navy serving as a radar man aboard the USS Van Valkenburgh until the end of war. His ship’s battles included Iwo Jima and Okinawa. 

After discharge, he and his wife decided to return to Wisconsin, and to college, graduating from Logan College of Chiropractic in St. Louis, Mo. He practiced in Colfax from 1958 until his retirement.

Surviving are his wife of 64 years, Mabel; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his son, David; his parents; five brothers; and two sisters.

A funeral service for Gordon will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, December 7, 2004, at Colfax Lutheran Church in Colfax with Reverend Les Walck officiating. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be held at a later date.

Sampson-Kastner Funeral Home, Colfax, is serving the family.

Mabel Holter

Mabel Holter passed away nearly four years later in May of 2008.

According to her obituary:

Mabel Brinkley Holter, 94 of Colfax died Saturday, May 31, 2008, at her home with the help and support of her friends, neighbors and Hospice.

Mabel was born March 31, 1914, in Lamoyne, Pa., to LeRoy and Edith (Byram) Brinkley. She graduated with honors from Lamoyne High School. In 1933, she moved with her family to Bridgeport, Conn., and worked as a secretary for the Underwood Corp. During WWII she worked for Sikorsky Aircraft. 

On December 21, 1940, she married Gordon Holter in Bridgeport, Conn. She and Gordy moved to Colfax in 1958 and started his chiropractic office. 

She was a member of Colfax Lutheran Church, the Ladies Aide and taught Sunday school for many years. She loved to crochet baby items, knit mittens for Lutheran World Relief and made exam gowns for the chiropractic office.

Survivors include her nieces and nephews, Nancy Lea Krepps of North Pole, Alaska; Thomas Holter, Sandy Ramer, Darlene Hansen, Susan Ayles, Jim Holter, Carol Holter, Judy Griffen Steele; and her very close friend Wanda Knutson.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gordon; and son, David.

Funeral Services for Mabel Holter will be Tuesday, June 3, 2008, at 11 a.m. from Colfax Lutheran Church.

Pastor Les Walck will officiate with burial in Evergreen Cemetery Colfax. 

Friends may call one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday. 

Sampson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

CMBRG

In August of 2008, the Colfax Municipal Building Restoration Group received $30,000 from the estate of Dr. Gordon and Mabel Holter.

More than 10 years ago, the restoration group spent $100,000 on the municipal building to upgrade the electrical service during an energy efficiency project and restoring the auditorium.

The village of Colfax received an energy-efficiency grant of $180,000 that, among other items, replaced the windows in the municipal building with energy-efficient windows.

In addition to the electrical service upgrade, which included new lighting in the auditorium, CMBRG has restored the auditorium to its original colors, has refinished the auditorium’s wood floor, and has completed a variety of other projects in the building, including the purchase and installation of the retractable screen above the stage that can be used for showing movies.