Albert Hollenbeck

Albert (Ab) Henry Hollenbeck Greatest Dad in the World Albert Henry Hollenbeck, 89, returned to his Heavenly Father and the waiting arms of his beloved wife, Evelyn, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007. Ab was born to Howard Reed and Elvira Lena Lewis Hollenbeck Jan. 6, 1918 in Salt Lake City, Utah, the only boy in the family, growing up with five sisters.He attended West High School, where he was captain of the basketball team. While there, he met Evelyn Fullmer, a pretty transfer student. Ab chased away all of her other boyfriends, leaving her with no option but to fall in love with him. With the outbreak of World War II, Ab was drafted into the Army Air Corps where he became a Staff Sergeant. He worked as a mechanic on A-20s and B-17s. On a three day leave in California, Ab called Evelyn and convinced her to meet him in Quartzite, Arizona, where they were married Oct. 4, 1942. They would not see each other for three years until the war ended and Ab came home. Once home, Ab and Evelyn settled down to raise a family. Ab went to work at the Birrell Bottling Co. before going to work at DuPont for 30 years. His job with DuPont took the family to Hawaii for several years. Ab continued to love the islands all his life, always keeping the spirit of Aloha in his heart. That kind and welcoming spirit became one of Abs defining characteristics. He was always tolerant and loving towards others, no matter their race, creed or religion. His family was full of unrelated friends and neighbors Ab had adopted. Family was always the most important thing to Ab, and he made numerous sacrifices in his career to spend more time with his family. Ab was a faithful and loyal member of the LDS Church, and he and Evelyn served a mission to Nauvoo, Illinois. He and Evelyn were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on Aug. 5, 1957. He loved to sing hymns, and his deep baritone voice could be heard loud and clear over everyone in church. Always a caring and kind husband, Ab took care of Evelyn after she had a stroke. He would dress her up in a big sweatshirt and one of his numerous ball caps and take her out. Ab even tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to do her make up. Ab remained a loyal patriot until the end of his life, always proud that he had been able to serve his country. When the current war in Iraq broke out, his only regret was that he was too old to serve again. Ab kept his sense of humor to the very end, always flirting and joking with his nurses and aids. In his vocal and humorous family, it was hard for Ab to get a word in edgewise, but when he did it was always witty and clever. Ab is survived by his four children, Craig (Elissa) Hollenbeck, Katy (Bud) Gibson, Susan Hollenbeck and Lori Hollenbeck, seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren (with one more on the way), his sister, Jane Child, and his squatty little pug, Milo. Funeral services will be held Monday, Oct. 29, 2007, 12 noon at the Taylorsville Gardens First Ward, 4252 South Bennion Road (1900 W.). Friends my call Sunday 5-7 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, and Monday at the church, 11:00-11:45 a.m. Interment, Valley View Memorial Park.