Col. Timothy Milton Holmen

Lt. Col. Timothy Milton Holmen (USAF) was born on July 10, 1964, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
On the afternoon of January 7th, 2016, Tim passed away peacefully due to infection complications following surgery. Tim was surrounded by loving family & friends at Ocean Springs Hospital at the time of his passing.
Tim was a long time service member in the United States Air Force as a C-130 pilot based at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Tim is survived by his loving wife Gayle Marie Holmen, his proud father Ralph Anton Holmen, his friend and brother Jeffrey Anton Holmen, his sister-in-law Kristin Marie Holmen, his God children Erik Anders Holmen (12) & Kinsey Marie Holmen (11) and his in-law parents Wayne & Barbara Malcho. Tim's mother, Mary Lynn Helland Holmen, recently passed away in Roswell, GA.
Tim spent most of his childhood years in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area and loved attending dog shows with his Mom & Dad and brother. For some reason, Tim always gravitated to the Dalmatian ring and this influenced the purchase of his first Dalmatian puppy named Nikita.
In 1972, his father Ralph received a job offer and moved the family to Roswell, Georgia. Jeff and Tim were close buddies and were thrown directly into ""southern lifestyle"". Mary & Ralph would regularly take the boys to Lake Lanier for boating, fishing and family solitude.
It was during these early years that Tim developed an interest in flying, because his Dad spent many hours in the Air Force Reserves at Dobbins Air Force base in Marietta, Georgia. Tim was allowed to walk the base and explore all of the different types of aircraft. It was here that the C-130 really caught his eye.
Tim attended Walton High School in Marietta, GA and graduated at the top of his class as a straight A student. Tim knew deep down after attending college that he wanted to join the Air Force and become a pilot. So, following high school, Tim enlisted in the Air Force Reserves. He became a C-130 Loadmaster during his college studies at Southern Tech. Tim graduated from Southern Tech with a 4.0 GPA in mechanical engineering.
From here, Tim's full passion and commitment to the United States Air Force went into full gear. He was immediately commissioned into undergraduate pilot training as a 2nd Lieutenant eventually graduating number 1 in his class at Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi.
He then moved backed to Dobbins Air Force base in Marietta and worked as an Air Reserve Technician with the 700th Airlift Squadron. It is here that Tim started his full-time engagement and missions flying the C-130.
As Tim's tenure and experience in the Air Force increased he was assigned to the Air Force base in Little Rock, Arkansas to finish his qualifications on the C-130. It was here that Tim caught the eye of a young beautiful Loadmaster by the name of Gayle.
Tim & Gayle started dating and were married in Kennesaw, Georgia on August 10, 1991. The newly weds had moved back to Georgia when both received assignments at Dobbins Air Force base.
Outside of their military duties, Tim & Gayle were passionate about raising and showing dogs. Their show dog of preference was the English Springer Spaniel.
In 1993, as Tim continued to fly C-130s, an opportunity arose for an assignment with the 'Hurricane Hunters' out of Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Tim & Gayle reveled in the change of scenery. Tim served as a C-130 Instructor Pilot with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron and Gayle served as a C-130 Instructor Loadmaster with the 815 Airlift Squadron.
It is in Biloxi where Tim was allowed to fully expand his hobbies and outdoor passions for fishing, hunting and boating.
While at Keesler Tim's career took off as he served as a Training Officer, Pilot Scheduler, Chief of Deployed Operations, Deployed Mission Commander, Chief of Safety, and Chief of Standardization and Evaluations. In addition, Tim served his country in 2009 flying missions in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.
Tim was also extremely proud of his Godchildren, Erik & Kinsey, and spoiled them at every opportunity afforded to him.
Lt. Col Tim's flying career spanned over 33 years. He was Pilot in Command with over 5200 hours of total flight time, 92.8 hours of Combat Time, and 59 hurricane penetrations. Tim also served as a Functional Check Flight pilot.
Tim will be sorely missed by his family, friends and colleagues.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, January 10, 2016, at 2pm at Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 2755 Bienville Boulevard in Ocean Springs. A time of gathering for family and friends will be held immediately following the service at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Fisher House Foundation (www.fisherhouse.org) Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans' families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment.
Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road in Gulfport, served the family.
For more information, please call (228) 539-9800.