For 64 years Holm Hinrichs called Huntsville home. Born in Hildesheim, Germany, his mother, Inge Iwerson, was a graduate of the Bauhaus School of Design in Dessau and his father, Hans Georg Hinrichs, was a Lieutenant in the Navy at Wilhelmshaven. In 1931, his father came to America to join an uncle in the Hinrichs Foundry & Brooklyn Vault Light Company and live in Port Washington, NY, where Holm attended high school. Studies at Cornell were interrupted when he served 3 years with the 3rd Combat Engineers in WWII in New Guinea, the Philippines and Japan. Holm completed degrees in chemistry and mathematical physics at Siena College in Albany, NY. In the spring of 1951, he came to Huntsville, AL to start what would become a distinguished 44 year career with Redstone Arsenal. Primarily involved in testing and evaluation of missile systems and propulsion, he interfaced with Thiokol and Roam & Haas, was Project Manager in charge of the Nike Hercules program, Army liaison to the Jet Propulsion Lab in California, and Director of the Propulsion Lab. During his many years of service in support of Army Missile Systems, Mr. Hinrichs was repeatedly recognized for exceptional performance. After the death of his late wife, Margaret Klinkhamer in 2004, he married Patricia Dreger, symphony flutist and widow of Alvin Dreger, cellist, in 2006. He passed away peacefully at home with his loving wife, Patricia, by his side. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Hinrichs; two children, Hans Neal Hinrichs and Inge Thomas; six grandchildren, Amata Small, Calen Hinrichs, Justin Hinrichs, Arielle Hinrichs, Hunter Thomas and Aureanna Hinrichs. Holm was well known for his gentle humor and quick wit. He would often recite bits of poetry in several languages and still had the little 'Pocket Book of Verse' he took with him to WWII 72 years ago. He loved boating, for years owned a boat and was Commodore with the Whitesburg Boat and Yacht Club, talked about the little sail boat his Dad built for him in Port Washington. He enjoyed woodworking, model trains, skiing, math and science. He was loving and generous to his family and deeply patriotic to America. A memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, June 5, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home with visitation at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery.
Information provided by Laughlin Funeral Home