Mary Elizabeth Holtz

Mary Elizabeth Holtz, 62, of Gays Mills passed away on February 3, 2026, in Viroqua with her husband Gary at her side. Mary was born on September 28, 1963, to Rodney and Frances Cobb in Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Growing up, Mary and her family moved to many different locations as her father was in the Army. She graduated from High School in Hawaii in 1981. Shortly after, the Cobb family was stationed for the last time and settled in Lacey, Washington.

In Lacey, Mary began working as a prep cook at Jack in the Box and continued working there for 16 years, advancing to assistant manager. She then took a management position at Chevron Inc. She lived an active city life and was a friend to all. Her life changed forever with the birth of her only beloved daughter Naomi in March of 2001. She then focused on raising her daughter, with the help of her mother and father. She worked hard to make ends meet and often volunteered at Pleasant Glade Elementary School. She was an extraordinarily loving and encouraging mother.

Another significant event that changed her life was meeting Gary Holtz and developing a relationship. With time, she and Naomi moved from Lacey, WA to Gays Mills, where they married on July 31st, 2015. She enjoyed working at the local orchards and canning goods from the garden.

Gary shared with Mary what he had learned from the Bible in the past and together they studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. They dedicated their lives to Jehovah together by water baptism on March 27, 2022.

Mary enjoyed sharing Bible truths with as many others as possible. She especially enjoyed sharing God’s wonderful hope to live in a new world of Paradise where He will remove all suffering, pain, and death. She looked forward with faith to the day when she would live again in perfect health!

Mary also loved animals of all kinds, especially her cats, Josie, Willow, Patches, and dog, Oscar. She had a particular fondness for cats and a soft heart for all living things. She also had a vibrant sense of humor and was known to brighten all whom she came in contact with.

Mary loved to cook, bake, and create new recipes. She started a Facebook group called “Mary’s Homemade Goodness.” Here, she found new recipes to share with others. In addition to innovating in the kitchen, she loved traditional foods such as spaghetti and meatballs that her mom made at home. Through Facebook, she became close friends with many people across the country and world.

Mary was preceded in death by both her maternal and paternal grandparents and her mother, Frances Cobb.

She is survived by her husband, Gary Holtz of Gays Mills, daughter, Naomi Cobb of Champaign, IL; father, Rodney Cobb of Lacey, WA; sister, Frances (Chris) Smith of Auburn, Kansas; sister, Michelle Cobb of Gays Mills; brother, Michael Cobb of Lacey, WA; niece, Caitlin Hoffman of Tacoma, WA; and special friend, Ramona Blanton of Henderson, NV.

There will be visitation at Vosseteig Funeral Home in Gays Mills on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. On Saturday, March 7, there will be visitation at the Prairie du Chien Kingdom Hall, 1815 S. 11th Street, from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m., with the Memorial Talk from 2:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. The Zoom meeting ID # is 842 3922 0731.

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