Steve HoldenSteve HoldenSteve Holden, 68, of Bishop Hill, died Oct. 7, 2011, at his home.
He was born May 8, 1943. He married Linda M. Holden in 1973. She survives.
Also surviving are one sister, Patricia Fossberg; and his mother, Betty Jean.
He was preceded in death by two sons and his father, Williard J. Holden.
He attended Illinois Wesleyan and graduated in 1965 with a bachelor of music with special fine arts and departmental honors. Upon his graduation from Wesleyan, he furthered his education at University of California at Berkley on the Crown-Zellerbach Fellowship in Music.
He spent time in the Peace Corp., volunteered as a linguist specializing in the Micronesian language of Truk.
In 1967, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in Vietnam from 1968-69. His last year of service was spent in the Honor Guard Burial Detail at Granite City.
Soon after his marriage, he became the potter in the historic village of Bishop Hill and in 1978, he and his wife moved there and established The Colony Pottery and Design in a colony building. They purchased the Administration Building.
In 1990, he accepted the position of site interpreter at Carl Sandburg Historic site in Galesburg. Almost 20 years later, he retired from the Sandburg site and his position as site manager.
He attended First Baptist Church in Cambridge, and for more than 20 years he served as choirmaster and organist.
Cremation was accorded. Services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Bishop Hill Colony Church. Wendt Funeral Home in Moline is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Bishop Hill Heritage Association to be applied towards restoration of the 1854 Steeple Building.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus