Philip Lawrence Holland

Philip Lawrence Holland

Coralville

Philip Lawrence Holland, 87, passed away at University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics on Sunday morning with Marilyn by his side.

Phil was born on a farm near Collins, Iowa, to Loyd D. Holland and Doris (Keagle) Holland on Nov. 21, 1934. He attended Collins schools, kindergarten through high school. He then attended Drake University on a basketball scholarship until the siren song of a professional baseball contract was offered to him by the Baltimore Orioles. He played in their farm system in the Appalachian League for Wytheville, Va., until he suffered a shoulder injury. During high school he broke many basketball and baseball records in his school, the county and state. After baseball, he returned to Iowa and was in sales for the rest of his professional career.

He met his future wife, Marilyn Harris, in Des Moines and he and Marilyn agreed it was a match made in Heaven. They were married on Jan. 23, 1955, in Iowa City and enjoyed over 67 years of marriage together.

Phil was very active in his community. He and a few other community members got together and designed and formed the Iowa City Girls Softball League. He also helped coach Connie Mac baseball and Little League for several years. He played Slow Pitch Softball for Brandt Heating and was well-known for hitting the ball out of Brown Street Park and across Brown Street. Phil belonged to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church where he served as a Sunday School teacher, on the church Session for three terms and went through Stephen Ministry training. He and Marilyn also guided the Senior Fellowship group at St. Andrew.

After his softball career, Phil took up and very much enjoyed golf. He played in several leagues, including the senior league at Brown Deer. Phil also was an avid bridge player. He belonged to two couples’ clubs for over 60 years and one men’s group during his retirement years. He also was a member of the Clarksville Masonic Lodge in Coralville.

Phil’s greatest community passion was raising funds to endow the Pediatric Chaplaincy at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He worked tirelessly with the Iowa City Old Capitol Kiwanis club for almost 30 years on this project. A person never ran into Phil between New Year and Easter without being offered the opportunity to buy a ticket to the Kiwanis Good Friday Prayer Breakfast. This year the U of I Center for Advancement, which manages the fund, honored him by naming the fund after him.

Phil is survived by his wife, Marilyn (Harris) Holland; daughter, Janet Holland; son, Jay (Barb) Holland; four granddaughters, Libby (Joe) Gardner, Laney (Matt) Guintard, Lexxy Holland and Lilly Holland; as well as one great-grandson, Jensen Gardner.

He was preceded in death by his parents, both brothers and sisters-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Philip L Holland/Kiwanis Pediatric Chaplaincy Fund, at the UI Center for Advancement, 1 Park Rd., Iowa City, IA 52246.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church which will be followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments. To share a memory, thought or condolence with his family please visit Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website at www.gayandciha.com.

Phil would roll his eyes and laugh at this obituary because of a discussion he and Marilyn had earlier. He told her that he wanted a very simple obituary: “Phil Holland died, golf cart for sale.”