Patricia Holbach

Trish Holbach was a woman who lived life with a fire inside her, from her fun-loving, fiery demeanor, to the flame-red hair upon her head. Trish faced many challenges in her life, but counted so many successes along the way. She was a loving mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend, but more than anything, she was an inspiration to all who knew her. Trishs story began on a warm summer day in 1954, as the winds came off the lake into the city of Gary, Indiana. Those were tumultuous times in this country, which was battling the Cold War, the Red Scare, and mounting racial tensions here at home. On June 5, 1954, a warm, sunny Saturday in Gary, Robert and Betty (Mathieson) Regan found a reason to rejoice, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl they named Patricia. Trish was the middle of three kids in the familys home, joining her big brother Tom and later her little brother Bill. Trishs dad worked in the foundry, while her mother had been an Army nurse who also worked as a nurse in the foundry to make ends meet. Being the only girl, Trish naturally was a tomboy growing up, and was tougher than most boys, too. She needed open-heart surgery when she was just six, to repair some holes in her heart. It was a tense time, but the operation was a success. When she was little, she met a girl named Jamie Averett, and the two quickly became best friends, and would be lifelong friends, too. (Trish always claimed it was Jamie who taught her to smoke, but Jamie always denied it). When she was a teenager, work took the family north up the lakeshore to South Haven, Michigan, and Trish eventually graduated from South Haven High School. She then headed north to Big Rapids, to study business at Ferris State, but after a couple years the finances got tough so she took a break from schooling. Always a fearless, independent girl, Trish decided to move to California, to get away from everything, and found a fresh start out in Santa Ana. She went to school to be a Phlebotomist, a specialist in drawing blood. And being near Hollywood, she once had to draw blood from none other than John Wayne! Being on her own was good for Trish, and she learned a lot and grew up in many ways while living there. When she was in her early 30s, she became pregnant, and so she moved back home to Grand Rapids with her parents. Then on January 11, 1986, she had her son Michael, who made her so happy and proud. Being a single mother wasnt easy and Trish went back to school at Aquinas College to earn her Bachelors of Arts degree in Business. She began working for Robert Lee Wold & Associates architectural firm, commuting to Grand Rapids every day. Eventually her car needed repairs, so she took it to a local shop, where she reconnected with a great guy named Pete Holbach. Pete was four years younger than Trish, who was friends with his sister in high school. Pete fixed her car, and it wasnt long before they were living together. Trish loved Pete, and they loved hopping on their motorcycles and going off riding, along with the many friends they rode with. They both loved bikes, and in fact, once lightning struck their house, burning it to the ground and everything inside, but Pete saved the bikes, including his fathers classic Harley! Trish soon found work in Muskegon at the Community Mental Health, working as a computer network administrator and software trainer, so the family moved to mobile home in Egelston Township. Trishs son Mike attended school at Oakridge Public Schools. Trishs life truly took flight in Muskegon, both literally and figuratively. She finally caved in and agreed to marry Pete, on August 22, 1998. Shortly after the couple bought a house on Timberlane Avenue in Laketon Township, which Trish decorated beautifully with flower gardens and her many, many houseplants. Her job was going well, and she was loved by everyone she worked with and respected for her computer knowledge and expertise. The family had a great life together, and took trips to Colorado, Florida and Tennessee. Trish also loved the motorcycle trips she took with Pete. They loved riding, and every fall they headed to Traverse City for a color tour and to stop at the many wineries along the way. Trish also fulfilled a lifelong dream, by studying for her airplane pilots license. She always had a passion for flying, and she even had enough training time to fly solo. She enjoyed taking her son flying on occasion, high up in the clouds, looking down on the lake and land below them. She began having back problems, though, and the medication prevented her from getting her pilots license. Sadly, Trish was diagnosed with small cell carcinoma, lung cancer and brain cancer, in 2006. She battled it bravely, fiercely, with the same fire and stubbornness she did everything, determined to beat it. She did chemotherapy and she had brain surgery, but the disease was spreading. When she began to feel better Trish, Pete and Mike even took a memorable trip to an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, which meant so much to her. But sadly, despite her valiant effort, Trish died with her family by her side on October 8, 2007, at Hackley Hospital. Trish was an incredible woman, who lived an incredible life, a life spent on the open road, and the clear blue sky. Trish lived life with a fire inside her, a fire that never failed to ignite passion, and inspiration, in all those around her. She will be so greatly missed. Trish is survived by her husband, Peter Holbach; mother, Betty Regan of Grand Rapids; 1 son, Michael Regan of Muskegon; 2 brothers, Tom (Ann) Regan of Virginia & Timothy William (Gina) Regan of North Muskegon; several nieces & nephews & many friends & colleagues. Services are scheduled for Saturday, October 13, 2007, 4:00 PM at the Clock Chapel. Visitation is Friday, 2-4 & 6-8 PM & Saturday 2 hours prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to share a memory or photo, or to sign the online guest book.