Charles Milton Holtzinger
1934-2005

A pillar of our family passed away Sunday, January 30, 2005. Charles Milton Holtzinger, age 71, beloved patriarch and friend died peacefully at home after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Charlie lived for the full experience of life. He loved his family and his friends.

In the late 1950s, at the age of 23, Charlie was honorably serving his country in Japan as a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. In 1958, he received word of his father’s death. Within a year, Charlie returned home to assume the helm of his father’s fruit company, C.M. Holtzinger Fruit Co. Inc.

One of Charlie’s first ventures involved the purchase of a large apple growing and packing operation in Okanogan County known as the Johnny Appleseed Ranch (“The Ranch”). He and his Seattle partner and friend owned this operation for almost twenty years. Charlie would fly up to The Ranch frequently. He loved piloting his speedy Beechcraft Bonanza to a grassy airstrip cut into the middle of one of his apple orchards. Throughout the years, Charlie would invite his pilot friends up to The Ranch for parties at the adjacent lake. These “fly-ins” were always memorable.

The Ranch fed Charlie’s other passions—namely hiking, hunting and fishing. The nearby mountains offered tremendous chucker and quail hunting. Charlie was a great shot. His hunting and fishing exploits took him all over the world. Charlie fished from northern Alaska to the jungles of Venezuela. Ever mindful of wildlife, he built and maintained numerous bird and animal habitats from Okanogan to Hermiston.

Charlie’s winter adventures took him from the Arctic to the bowls of Vail. This great man loved to ski. He was President of the White Pass Ski Company for over 25 years. Charlie spent many winters packing his sons, nephews, neighbors and even a couple of soon-to-be World Cup Champions around the Northwest. The journeys were most often taken in a 1967 Chrysler station wagon known as “The Queen.”

In the late 1970s, the adventuresome Charlie Holtzinger expanded his orchard and packing business by acquiring Prosser Fruit Service. This was the company’s first foray into the cherry business. In the early 1980s, Charlie again entered into a new business. He and some friends founded Quail Run Winery, now known as Covey Run.

Charlie will always be remembered for his sense of humor, big cigars and his even bigger heart. He was a very committed man who took care of his family and friends. We will miss him very much.

Charlie is survived by his wife, Sandra Ruth Holtzinger, his children, C. Mark Holtzinger (Sara), Brian S. Holtzinger (Joy), David M. Holtzinger and Savanna Holtzinger, as well as a sister, Sara Keefe (Tyler), and six grandchildren.