Nolan Lee Holbrook

Nolan Lee Holbrook

July 8, 1941 – January 16, 2024 (age 82)

Nolan Lee Holbrook passed away peacefully on January 16^th. Nolan was born July 8, 1941, in Wisconsin to Leroy Lester and Ethel LaBelle (Peggy) Holbrook. He was their only child and the apple of their eyes. Nolan spent his childhood in Wausau, Wisconsin where he learned how to climb a bar stool at his Grandma Jule’s business, The Wausau Bar and Café. Later, his parents moved them to Vancouver, Washington where he attended Fort Vancouver High School. There, Nolan earned a track scholarship to attend the University of Portland, and he graduated with a Liberal Arts degree with the intention of teaching History to high school/middle school students.

Nolan met the love of his life and best friend, Elaine, in 1963 in South Lake Tahoe. Nolan was a craps dealer at Harrah’s and Elaine was a waitress in the employee cafeteria. This brought Nolan to California where, instead of teaching History, he became a police officer for Walnut Creek Police Department. Nolan and Elaine married June of 1965 and raised three children (two sons and a daughter) in Concord, California. Later they had two grandsons, and even later the addition of two more grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Throughout the years they did a lot of camping and jeeping in the Sierra Nevada mountains with friends and family. Nolan also enjoyed annual trips hunting in Modoc County, CA and fishing at Eagle Lake, CA. Nolan retired after 30 years as a police sergeant, and in 1995 they built their dream home in Coeur d’Alene. Their children soon followed. The next 20 years were spent enjoying their home on six acres, hosting numerous parties, holiday gatherings, and even a couple weddings! They were known for their fun New Year’s Eve parties with Nolan’s karaoke raffle drawings.

Nolan’s hobbies included tinkering on their six acres and tending to their vegetable garden. He also liked watching events his two grandsons, Zack and Jake, were involved in. Nolan enjoyed his involvement in organizations that were dear to his heart, serving as President of the OWLS (a retired law enforcement group) and on the Board for the Kootenai County Police and Fire Memorial Foundation. Nolan was known for his outgoing jovial personality. He loved a good party and drinking his favorite beer, PBR. Nolan will be missed greatly by all.

Nolan is survived by son Lee (Charlene) Holbrook of Coeur d’Alene with grandsons Zack and Jake; son Mike (Kim) Holbrook of Coeur d’Alene, daughter Kim (Ron) Young of Post Falls with grandchildren Maurissa and Cory and three great-grandchildren Jon, Maicie, and Addie; sisters-in-law Janet Hill of Clovis, CA and Elizabeth (brother-in-law John) Anderson of Coeur d’Alene; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Nolan is preceded in death by his dear wife of 54 years, Elaine, his parents Leroy and Peggy, sister-in-law Katherine, brothers-in-law Franklin “Joby,” Curt, and Nick, and two nephews. 

A Celebration of Life will occur at a later date. The family would like to thank the staff at Creekside Inn for their care and support.