Ilse Kramer Holliday

Ilse Kramer Holliday, 92, of Travelers Rest, SC, passed away on September 25, 2017 at home after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Dr. John H. Holliday. She was born in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, on February 21, 1925, to Friedrich and Mathilde Spachholz Kramer. She was predeceased by her parents and her older brother, Karlheinz Kramer, also of Germany. She met her husband in Germany in 1945 during the American occupation. In 1947, she left her family and came to America to join her future husband in Charleston, SC, where he was completing his medical degree at the Medical University of South Carolina. They were married on Thanksgiving Day in 1947 – six days after she arrived in the United States. In 1951, she and Dr. Holliday moved to Travelers Rest where he began his medical practice. She was the consummate wife and mother – the eternal volunteer for all of her children’s activities. She made her home welcoming so that it was the gathering place for her children and their friends. Mrs. Holliday was an active member of her church and community. She was a communicant and a Vestry Member at St James Episcopal Church. She was a member and Past President of the Travelers Rest Garden Club and the Travelers Rest Study Club. For 20 years, she was a Volunteer at Greenville Memorial Hospital. She and her husband loved travel and traveled extensively throughout the world visiting all of the 50 states, much of Canada and Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean and South and Central America. They loved hiking and canoeing and were active with the Greenville Natural History Association for many years. They canoed many rivers throughout the US until their 80s. They enjoyed bridge and belonged to several bridge clubs throughout their lives. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Mrs. Holliday is survived by a sister, Elfriede Kriege, of Mannheim, Germany, and by three sons and a daughter, Bob (Judy) Holliday, Carol Holliday, Mike (Dondi) Holliday, and Danny (Maryellen) Holliday, as well as grandchildren, Holly (Chuck) Smith, Erin (Ben) Banonis, , Kelly Holliday, Lindsay (Rob) Renner, Andrew (Valerie) Holliday, and Patrick Holliday and great-grandchildren, Ashtin Smith, Summer Smith, , Hunter Banonis, Hailey Banonis, and Quinn Renner. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the caregivers who lovingly devoted themselves to Mrs. Holliday throughout the last years of her illness. Funeral Services will be held Friday morning at 11 o’clock at St. James Episcopal Church. Burial will follow in Mountain View Memorial Park. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 7 P.M. until 8:30 P.M. at The Howze Mortuary and again from 9:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. at the church prior to the service. Memorials may be made to the Furman University Endowment Fund, C/O Furman University Development Office, 3300 Poinsett Hwy. Greenville, SC 29613.

Ilse Kramer Holliday

February 21, 1925 - September 25, 2017