Melanie Kay Grueser Holman

Melanie Kay Grueser Holman of State Route 124, Racine, Ohio, passed away March 8, 2026 at Arbors of Pomeroy with her husband Jake, the nurse from Shivers Hospice, and the nurses and aides of Arbors of Pomeroy all at her side.

Melanie was born January 13, 1949 to Thelma Roush Grueser and David Grueser. It has been said she was a child of Conder Street of Pomeroy where she made a lifelong friendship with Sally Willis Holman.

But the joy in her life was her husband whom she married in June of 1979, Jacob S. Holman Jr.

Melanie was a lifelong housewife raising her two children, Mistie Grueser Cox (Brain) and Rodney Grueser, both of whom passed away a few years ago.

She is survived by three grandchildren, Kaylea Cox King, Hunter Cox and Michael Grueser. Christopher Grueser was her fourth grandchild that was lost in a house fire a few years ago at 2 years old.

And from them there are 3 great-granddaughters and 2 great-grandsons.

There are a few things that define who Melanie Kay was and things that had an affect on her. One of those events was the loss of Christopher and the burns that Michael sustained. I suppose you could say that there was a scar on her heart from that event which she never fully recovered from.

And the second would be the loss of her two children.

And the third would be the baby that came into the Holman family that was from another mother that Jake and Melanie loved as their own. Nevada was loved but due to things beyond their control she was moved on to another home.

These three major events defined Melanie in the last few years. Scars on her heart that she carried around that others did not see. Melanie shut down and for most of us we had trouble understanding her actions, but when it is all laid out one can see the pain she carried in her heart.

Melanie is survived by one sister of Pomeroy, Linda Hudson.

Her other siblings were Betty Jane Russell, Virginia Foster, Gerry Halley, John “Jack” Grueser, Donna Hogue, Charlotte Emery, James and Glenn Grueser.

And from this side of the family there are several nieces and nephews.

She is also survived by Jake’s family, James (Jim) and Denise Holman, Loyal Holman, John Holman and Janet Krider, Albert and Dawn Holman.

And Jake’s two sisters, Catherine and Mary, preceded her.

From this side of the family there are a number of nieces and nephews who called her Aunt Dee, some of which she watched grow into young adults. Plus, a young great-niece that was simply called Sissy.

The family wishes to extend special blessings and thanks to the following:

The staff of the ICU at Doctors Hospital in Columbus

The staff of Shriver’s Hospice Care

And the staff of Arbors of Pomeroy, who for the most part went beyond the call in the care of Melanie. They prepared her for the journey to the funeral home with a smile on her face and a smile that was a reminder of her belief and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.  

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 11:00am at the Anderson McDaniel Funeral Home with Pastor Joy Wigal and Jim Holman officiating.   Burial will follow in the Letart Falls Cemetery.   Visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service (10-11:00am).  

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