Joseph Charles Holden was born to Joseph Wilford and Thelma Waters Holden, September 4, 1938, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He died in his home surrounded by family early Tuesday morning, February 7, 2023, after an extended struggle with Alzheimer’s Dementia Disease.
Chuck grew up in Leeds, Utah, on a small dirt farm. He enjoyed days spent with his pony, Prince, who kept him out of too much trouble. He attended school in St. George, Utah, while helping to work the farm with his father and brother. After a time, the family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to be closer to full time work for his father. There, he spent time with his grandparents and his aunts and his favorite dog. The family later moved to Layton, Utah, where Chuck met Mary Shull, the love of his life. They married in 1957. Chuck worked as a carpenter with his brother while Mary finished nursing school.
The family subsequently moved to California for work and where Chuck began attending college, but moved back to Layton when the time came to care for Mary’s dying father until he passed in 1971. Chuck graduated from Weber State College where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in Zoology. They stayed in Utah until 1972, when they moved to Boise, Idaho, to finish their family of 6 children and begin the rest of their lives together.
Chuck worked for the Idaho State Tax commission and later as the Executive Director of the Idaho Association of Counties (IAC). During this time, he also worked as a lobbyist in the Idaho State Legislature where he helped to create and pass many bills and laws that are still on the books today. As a director of IAC, he saw the need for Idaho Counties to develop an entity that would self-insure the counties. As a consequence, he went on to conceive and create the Idaho Counties Reciprocal Management Program (ICRMP), working with Lloyds of London to act as the underwriters, and managing the organization for many years. After leaving ICRMP, he worked a short time with Peterson’s Auto Sales and Albertson’s Corporate, until it became necessary to take early retirement to care for his sweetheart, Mary.
An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints, Chuck held many callings including teaching and serving as Seventies Group Leader, High Priest Group Leader, Ward Clerk, Sunday School President, and Genealogical researcher and indexer. His faith was the central roadmap to his life.
Chuck loved any gathering where he could tell stories, make jokes and be surrounded by those he loved. He made friends easily and offered service to anyone he felt needed his assistance, befriending his neighbors and their kids and helping them where possible with lawn care or other chores.
His greatest pleasures came from visits and reminiscing with his children and grandchildren. He worked right up to the end of his days on compiling stories, photos, and genealogy to keep the spirits of his ancestors alive for generations to come. The past year was especially hard for him with his failing memories, but he was blessed to reside in Cornerstone Memory Care. Although he struggled with time and loneliness, he was cared for and loved by all who worked with him. He especially cherished the correspondence, visits and phone calls that he received from those who cared.
Chuck was the seventh of eight children. He is preceded in death by his parents and all seven of his siblings, his wife Mary, daughter Dixie and son Blane. He is survived by his children, Mark Holden (Lana), Lyle Holden (Paige), Wendy Ward (Scott), and Gwendolyn Sebastian (Mark); daughter in law Diana and son-in-law Richard; and twenty-five grandchildren and twenty-eight great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
At Chuck’s request, instead of flowers, those wishing to pay respect to his memory are asked to make donations to The Alzheimer’s Foundation https://www.alzfdn.org .
We will lovingly put his body to rest on at 11 am, Thursday, February 23, 2023. In lieu of formal services, the family will hold a graveside service at the Meridian Cemetery. Condolences may be left at www.bowmanfuneral.com .