Marvin Aubrey Holgren, Captain, USN, retired

September 25, 1927 – June 16, 2021

Marvin passed into the arms of His Savior the Lord Jesus Christ on June 16, 2021 at the age of 93.  He was the son of Peter and Gladys (Calvert) Holgren and was born in Turlock, California.  He had an agricultural upbringing, growing up on farms in the central valley of California.  After graduating from Tulare High School in 1945 he set his sights on becoming a pilot and excelled in his pursuit, becoming a decorated United States Naval Aviator.

He received his commission into the U.S. Navy and began flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida.  He earned his wings, had advanced flight training and was a flight instructor.  He flew in the Korean War, 1950-51 – USS Boxer (CV-21) and the Vietnam War. 1964 – USS Constellation (CV-64).  He made hundreds of successful day and nighttime aircraft carrier landings during the wars and beyond.  He was blessed to retrieve the bullet from the back of his seat after a confrontation in Korea.  Among the many aircraft he flew  were the F4U Corsair, F8F Bearcat, F-8 Crusader, F9F Panther, Boeing-Stearman Model 75 Biplane, North American T2 Buckeye.

He received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, CA (1957) and his Masters in Aeronautical Engineering at the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA (1963).  He received numerous decorations and medals for his service in the Navy.

To Marvin it was a great honor to serve The United States of America and defend the freedoms she holds.  He achieved the rank of Captain and counts as lifelong friends the men he had the privilege of serving with while in the Navy.  A late career achievement was being named as  the Navy's Chief Project Officer for the F-14 Tomcat.  He retired after a 32-year career and began work for the Cubic Corporation in San Diego, CA as a Project Manager before officially retiring in 1990.

Marvin met his wife Elizabeth (Boldizsar) Holgren while stationed in Alameda, CA in 1950.  They were married in August 1951 and had six children.  They raised their beloved family while attending school and serving in the Navy.  They moved many times as Marvin served tours of duty throughout the U.S. and abroad.  They lived in Florida, California, Japan and Virginia.  They were married for 24 years. He was married to Diana (Widrig) Holgren in 1978 and they lived in Del Mar, CA.  She preceded him in death in 2002.

For over 45 years Marvin was a faithful member of Good Samaritan Episcopal Church in San Diego, CA. He  enjoyed many years of Bible study with the Logos Bible Study Course under Dr. Bill Creasy and accompanied him on several of his teaching tours to the Holy Land.  Marvin was baptized in the Jordan River on his trip to Israel.  He had a great love of music and sung in Good Samaritan's choir.  He also helped "count the beans" (account for the weekly donations) and provided many other hours of service.  According to members there, "…we enjoyed his presence and counted upon his calm.  That, coupled with his wonderful sense of humor, made for a great combination that reassured and delighted us."

Throughout his life Marvin enjoyed travel, golf, drawing, painting, fishing, fixing things, building, piano, singing, football, photography, and gardening.  He was fortunate to have made THREE holes in one while playing golf!  Aside from his military tours throughout the Pacific Theater, his travels took him to Israel, Turkey, Hawaii, Alaska, and throughout the U.S.  He held seasons tickets for the San Diego Chargers for 3 decades. He was the family historian, photographing and categorizing all photos, slides and movies meticulously. He would play piano for his children and make up wonky songs using their names. While in the Navy he often drew the mascots for his navy squadrons and cartoons for their publications.  He was a legend in the way he could "fix" almost anything.  His amaryllis plants were prolific and always so beautiful.

Marvin's affable demeanor and perpetual smile were attributes that friends and family admired and cherished.  After debilitating falls, injuries, and a stroke in his later years his "can do" attitude, strength of character and magnificent smile continued to shine through.

He is survived by his children; Melanie Frey (Keith), Marlis Holgren, William Bradford Holgren (Melissa), Robert Scott Holgren (Julie), and Meri Kerekanich (John); grandchildren, Michelle (Frey) Fortin (Jason), Myra Holgren, Christopher Holgren (Jodie), Emily (Holgren) Walker (Richard), Bryan Holgren, Jeffrey Holgren (Elena), Daniel Holgren, Sarah (Holgren) Towne (Corey), Ashley Kerekanich, JD Kerekanich (Shannen); great-grandchildren, Kira Holgren, Jonah Holgren, Kenton Fortin, and Camille Fortin;  cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Preceding him in death; parents, Peter and Gladys Holgren; brother, Paul J. Holgren; former wife, Elizabeth (Boldizsar) Holgren; son, Bradford Scott Holgren, and wife Diana (Widrig) Holgren.

Marvin's "Celebration of Life" service will be held at Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, 4321 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121 on Friday, July 9, 2021.  There will be visitation at 9:00am in the chapel and the service at 10:00 am.  A reception will follow in the fellowship hall.  Interment will be at El Camino Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating in his name to:

Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Memorial contributions may be mailed to: MOAA Scholarship Fund, PO Box 1824, Merrifield, VA 22116-9917

To donate online: www.moaa.org/scholarshipfund

Or

Good Samaritan Episcopal Church Outreach & Advocacy Ministries 4321 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121

To donate online: https://goodsamchurch.org/giving/give-online/

Arrangements are entrusted to Poway – Bernardo Mortuary, 13243 Poway Road, Poway, CA 92064, Phone 858-748-4101, Website: www.powaybernardomortuary.net

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, – and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of – wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air . . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark, or ever eagle flew –

And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

– John Gillespie Magee, Jr

"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him

should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

John 6:40

Blue Skies and Tailwinds Captain Holgren!