Ardo C. Holmgrain, 96, of Rock Island, died Friday, June 7, 2024 at Friendship Manor, Rock Island.  Burial will be private at Chippiannock Cemetery, Rock Island, where military honors will be presented.  Memorials may be made in care of the Rock Island Rotary Club and Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rock Island.

Ardo was born in Moline, Illinois on February 4, 1928, a son of Elmer and Clara Bleuer Holmgrain.  He grew up during the Great Depression.  As a high school student during World War II, he worked for the Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company.  After graduating from Rock Island Senior High School in 1946, he enlisted in the Army and served at Ft. Bragg, NC and Ft. McPherson, GA.  He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergent in 1948.  Ardo was the third generation of his family to graduate from Augustana College, where he majored in mathematics and physics.  He graduated, class of 1952.

Ardo married Carolyn J. Whitcomb on October 26, 1956 in St. John's Lutheran Church, Rock Island.  She has been his beloved wife for sixty-seven years.

Ardo's 32-year lifetime career was with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, joining in 1953 and served as Chief of Estimating and Specifications.  He received two Sustained Superior Performance Awards, a Special Act Award for outstanding achievements as Value Engineer, and numerous other recognitions.  He was an active member of the Society of American Military Engineers for more than fifty-five years and served as secretary for three years.

Following his retirement, he moved to his Mercer County farm where colleagues and friends organized deer hunts and fished on the two ponds for over twelve years before returning to Rock Island.  Local memberships included the Mercer County Historical Society and Natural Area Guardians.

Ardo and Carolyn enjoyed traveling, visiting all 50 states, 27 national parks, nine Canadian provinces and 35 foreign countries in five continents.  With age, travel became limited to visiting family and wintering in Florida.  He was a supporting member of the Figge Art Museum, the Putnam Museum, the Quad City Botanical Center, the Rock Island Preservation Society and the Quad City Symphony for 58 years.

Ardo was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rock Island and a past member of St. John's Lutheran Church, Rock Island.  He was a member of the Rock Island Rotary Club, where he served as president, had over 50 years of perfect attendance and was a Paul Harris Fellow.  He was instrumental in the creation of the club's highest honor, the A.T. Peara Award, a lifetime achievement award presented to a member that best represents the ideals of Rotary International.  He and his wife served as a host family for a visiting Rotary Youth Exchange student and was a key figure founding the Rock Island Summerfest, and annual event previously held in downtown Rock Island.  He also served as president of the Youth Guidance Council of Rock Island, creating the professional Youth Services Bureau, served as president of the Rock Island Engineering and Scientific Corp, was president of the Rock Island American Scandinavian Society and served on the Rock Island County Historical Society Board.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn J. Holmgrain, Rock Island; son, Kent Holmgrain, East Moline; daughter, Ardith Holmgrain (Juliusz Sas), New York City; and grandchildren, Alexander Sas and Sabina Sas.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Bruce E. Holmgrain and Dale F. Holmgrain.