Holland, LeRoy Dutch

LeRoy Dutch Holland - age: 75
(October 23, 1933 to August 12, 2009 )
Resident of Ukiah, California

Visitation Information:
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Obituary:
LeRoy (DUTCH) Holland, left us to promote his ultimate derby in the sky on August 12, 2009.
Born October 23, 1933 to parents John & Lydia Holland in Walla Walla, Washington where he was raised. From the time Dutch could hold a wrench, cars became his life. If it had four tires and an engine, he was either fixing or crashing them. Maybe that’s why, for the last forty years he was “Dutch Holland Racing Promotions”.
After graduating from Walla Walla High School, Dutch entered the Marine Corps. “Once a Marine, always a Marine” and he was very proud to say just that. After leaving the Corps, he became a “Lineman for the county” working for Pac-Bell until his move to Sacramento in 1961, where he worked for Hertz Car Rental for about four years before switching to National Car Rental as a Manager at the Sacramento Airport. Later he became the Western Regional Manager for the company.
He met the love of his life, Fran, on May 12th, 1966 and they were married April 20th, 1968, combining their family of Greg, Dutch’s son, Tina and Cindy, Fran’s daughters. Their daughter, Mitzie, came along in 1971 after they were transferred to Santa Barbara, California where he started his own franchise with National Car Rental. In 1972 Greg became terminally ill and the family moved back to Sacramento.
Never far from cars, Dutch had driven in just about every kind of racing, whether it was with the Jaguar Racing Team, Figure 8, circle track or destruction derbies. In 1968 he became the promoter of his own company, Dutch Holland Racing Promotions. One of the most exciting times in his life was in 1995, seeing the Indy 500 up close and personal. Being an avid NASCAR member and fan, we know that he is up there bench racing with Earnhardt.
From approximately 1972 to 1980, the grandstands at the fairgrounds raceway were empty, the track was covered with dirt, and the infield and pit areas were overgrown with weeds. In 1980 Dutch gave the call “gentlemen, start your engines!” and stock car racing in Ukiah was once again given the green flag at the Redwood Empire Raceway. Dutch and Fran moved permanently to Ukiah to run the weekly program until the end of the 1989 season.
Preceded in death were his parents, John and Lydia Holland, his older sister Georgie-ann and his son Greg.
He leaves behind his beloved wife Fran, daughters Mitzie Holland of Ukiah, Cindy Kistler (husband Art) of Ukiah, and Tina Nelson (husband Marcus) of Ukiah, his brother, Robert Holland ( wife Robin) of Spanaway, Washington, Sisters, Shirley Haines (husband Mark) of Ukiah, Vivian Jones (husband Steve) of Gilbert, Arizona, Marlene Robinson (husband Mike) of Tacoma, Washington and Dorothy Biederstedt (and husband) of Idaho, six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and great-nephews and nieces.
A proud man was probably the best way to describe Dutch, who was one of a kind and blessed with more friends than can be counted and a devoted family that loved him unconditionally. Dutch always did it his way, even to the end.
Services will be held at Redwood Empire Fairgrounds Speedway with reception to follow at the Fine Arts Building on Monday August 17th, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.
The Dutch Holland Memorial Fund has been set up at the North Valley Bank.