Darrel M. Holtz

Darrel Holtz, 81, of Gilbert, MN died peacefully at home on June 20, 2024 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was born at home on the north farm in Raymond, MN on June 15, 1943 to Irvin and Irene (Thompson) Holtz. 

Darrel graduated from Raymond High School in 1961. He joined the U.S. Army Reserves in 1961 and proudly served until being honorably discharged in 1968. He completed his training as an X-ray technician at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar, MN and was certified by the ARRT in 1964. Darrel’s first job in the imaging industry was as Chief Radiologic Technologist at the hospital in Montevideo, MN. He soon got a job at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN as a Special Procedures Technologist. It was there that he helped install the first CT scanner in the country. He performed the very first CT scan in the Western Hemisphere on June 19, 1973. This was by far the proudest accomplishment of his professional life. He was able to attend the 50th anniversary celebration at Mayo Clinic of this pivotal development in medical history in 2023. After his time at Mayo Clinic, he was hired at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul to coordinate the installation of the city’s first full body CT scanner. He went on to work in medical equipment sales, and as a technologist at Twin Cities hospitals doing CT and MRI. After working for over a decade at the MN Dept of Health as an inspector in the Radiation Control X-ray unit, he retired in 2005.

Darrel met Judy (Skerbitz) on a blind date in Rochester while he was working at Mayo and she was completing training at St. Mary’s School of Nursing. They were married in Aurora, MN in 1967. Together they raised 3 children. He and Judy traveled around the US and Europe whenever possible. Darrel was a faithful member of every church he attended and served on the church council when he lived in Inver Grove Heights. He loved big band music, playing the drums, attending MN Gopher football games, and spending time with all of his family and friends. Darrel and Judy moved to Bass Lake after retirement, where Darrel most enjoyed pontoon rides with his faithful dog, Rudy.

Darrel was preceded in death by his parents, Irv and Irene, stepmother Emma, brother Dale, mother & father in-law Bena & Tony Skerbitz, brother in-law & sister in-law Dick & Jenny Skerbitz, and brother in-law Bob Skerbitz.

He is survived by his loving wife, Judy, children Dave (Julaine) Holtz, Mike (Cindy) Holtz, and Barb (Bill) Jahn; grandchildren Michael, Sara, Abby (Jeremiah), Zack, Calvin, Katie, Jessica, Brandon and Eric, and great-granddaughter, Freya; sister Kathy (Garvin) Marcus, sisters in-law Andy Holtz and Joy Thomas, numerous nieces, nephews & cousins, and a million friends.

Visitation at Ziemer-Moeglein-Shatava Funeral Home, Gilbert, MN is Tuesday, June 25, 2024 from 5-7pm. Funeral at United in Christ Lutheran Church, Eveleth, MN on Wednesday, June 26 with visitation at 10am and service at 11am. Burial will be at later date at Forest Hill Cemetery in Aurora, MN.