Michael Robert Holehouse

Michael Robert Holehouse, 67, of Sharps Chapel, TN, a beloved husband, father, brother and uncle and accomplished airline pilot, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on June 8, 2025.

Michael had many friends from all throughout his life and had an incredible sense of humor and positive attitude. To those who knew and loved Michael, he will be remembered for his love of family, friends, flying, outdoors, and the Green Bay Packers.

Michael was born on January 28, 1958, in Milwaukee, WI to Patricia and Gerald Holehouse. He grew up in Stevens Point, WI and was the oldest of five children. Throughout his childhood in Stevens Point, he excelled in academics and sports, including golf. Michael also served as the class president of 1976 at Stevens Point Area Senior High School. He went on to attend the University of North Dakota (UND), where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Studies, with concentrations in Meteorology and Cloud Physics. He graduated Cum Laude in 1985. Following college, he went on to work for Weather Modification in Bowman, North Dakota, where he conducted cloud seeding missions. Following that role, he worked at Atmospherics in Fresno, California, where he conducted cloud seeding missions in several states and India, Africa, Chile and Greece.

Michael spent the rest of his successful career at Horizon Airlines followed by American Airlines, beginning in 1986. He was promoted to Captain in 1992. He received a special assignment as American Airlines radar training developer, where he was assigned to develop, design and implement weather training program on all American Airlines fleet types. He was also an ASAP ERT member as radar expert on weather related incidents and served as a check airman on several fleets from 1987 to 2023. He retired in 2023.

While his many achievements in life and as a pilot were important to him, his greatest love was for his family. After meeting the love of his life at UND, he married Kellee (Larson) Holehouse in 1983. In his spare time, he loved spending time with his kids, coaching their softball and baseball teams, and going to all of their games. He also enjoyed entertaining friends and family at their Wisconsin, Texas and Tennessee homes and hunting in Wisconsin, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Michael is survived by his loving wife Kellee, children Katie (Ryan) Sloma and Sean (Cassie) Holehouse and several siblings, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of flowers, his family is requesting that donations (checks) be made to the Hospice Promise Foundation and include UT Hospice on the memo line so that donations do not get lost in the UT Hospital system. Their address is 4435 Valley View Drive, Suite 104, Knoxville, TN 37917. A private celebration of life will be held at a later date.