Source: The Bremerton Sun, p. 1, col. 2
Saturday, 27 Nov 1948

Death Claims John Holmberg

John August (Augie) Holmberg, 66, prominent retired Port Orchard road contractor, died yesterday afternoon in a Bremerton hospital after an extended illness. He entered the hospital two weeks ago.

With the late L.A. Norman, Mr. Holmberg was the co-founder of the contracting firm of Holmberg and Norman.

Mr. Holmberg came to Port Orchard with his family in the spring of 1919 to construct the first waterfront road from the city limits of Port Orchard to Gorst. Upon completion of the road his firm put in several Port Orchard streets, including Cline street, the favorite route to Kitsap county court house.

Numerous county roads, both on the mainland and Bainbridge island were constructed by the firm. Many of the larger buildings and playgrounds in Bremerton occupy sites the firm prepared.

About 25 years ago Holmberg and Norman constructed the Gig Harbor highway from Port Orchard to the vicinity of Burley. Their greatest achievement was during the late 20s when they carved 20 mile of famous Olympic Loop highway out to the Alast wilderness of the U.S.

After the death of his partner in 1931, Mr. Holmberg continued for three years at Mount Rainier, constructing a difficult stretch of road in to Reflection Lake.

Seeking an enterprise to bring new business to the south end of the county, through the efforst of Mr. Holmberg and other Port Orchard business men, the present Silver Springs Brewery was established. He was active in both constuction and management of this concern.

Mr. Holmberg was a charter member of Port Orchard Kiwanis club and was active in the organization until illness forced his retirement. For several years he also participated in the work of Knights of Pythias, Sidney lodge No. 85.

Mr. Holmberg was known as a prominent citizen and one of the first to contribute to and work for any civic enterprise for the welfare of his community.

A native of Sweden, where he was born in Vadstena, on Dec. 13, 1881 he came to the U.S. and to Rockford, Ill., in 1890. He moved to Seattle in 1900 and was married there to Miss Alfreda C. Landquist, June 20, 1905. They moved to Lemola in 1907 and lived there until making Port Orchard their home.

Besides his widow Mr. Holmberg is survived by a son, Carl B. Holmberg is survived by a son, Carl B. Holmberg, Bremerton; two daughters, Mrs. Myrtle Honodel, Bremerton, and mrs. Eleanor Scalf, Manchester; nine grandchildren; two brothers, Fred, Chicago, and Andrew, Seattle; five sisters, Mrs. Clara Hasselberg, and Mrs. Elsie Morgan, both of Seattle; Mrs. Alma Murphy, Rockport (Skagit county); Mrs. Anna Nelson, Rockford, Ill., and Mrs. Alida Johnson, Detroit, Mich.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. in Kinghts of Pythias hall, Port Orchard.