James Edward Holford, Dds

James E. Holford, 91, of the Lake Geneva area passed away at his home on July 17, 2025.

Jim was born at the Beloit Municipal Hospital on August 4th, 1933, along with his identical twin brother, John.  Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Marie Holford of Whitewater, Wisconsin, brother John Holford and Sister Johanna Holford Wilke of West Bend, Wisconsin.   He has one remaining sister, Veronica Holford Hanauer of Shawno, Wisconsin.

Jim and his brother were active in many sports and music programs in grade and high school.  In 1953 Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force.  He served in the US and Korea during the Korean conflict.  After his honorable discharge in 1957, he enrolled in the Marquette University Dental Program, receiving a DDS degree from Marquette in September of 1963.  While at MU, Jim met fellow MU student Theresa Noll.  The couple were married in 1962.  After a number of years as a General Dentist, Jim enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania Dental Specialty School of Endodontics under the supervision of Dr. Louis Grossman.  He received his Endodontic Specialty degree in May of 1973.  Jim practiced Endodontics in San Francisco and Oakland, California, before returning to Wisconsin and opening his practice in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.  Jim enjoyed hunting with his golden retriever and playing golf with his friends.  He organized and served as an usher/greeter at Gesu Church on Marquette’s campus for many years.  He will be greatly missed hy his family and friends.

Services for Jim will be held on Wednesday July 23rd, 2025, at 11:00am at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Lake Geneva.  There will be a short visitation prior to the services starting at 10:00am.  Military honors will be held immediately after the service at St. Francis de Sales.

In lieu of other expressions of sympathy the family has asked that you donate in Jim’s name to St. Francis de Sales to have a mass held in Jim’s name or to the St. Francis de Sales Angel Fund .

To post an online condolence please click the “Share a Memory” box on the left side of your screen.

Derrick Funeral Home is honored to be assisting Jim’s family.

St. Francis de Sales Angel Fund
148 West Main Street, Lake Geneva WI 53147
Tel: 1-262-248-8524
Web: https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZDEW/campaign/C-1179T