Mary D. ‘Gigi’ Holland, Preservation Advocate and Gardener, Dies at 91
A longtime Madison volunteer with deep ties to New Glarus, Holland helped preserve historic places, cultivated public gardens and native plantings, and filled the lives of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with handmade treasures.
– Obituary courtesy of Saether Funeral Home
Mary D. (Gigi) Holland, age 91, passed away peacefully at Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale in Madison, Wisconsin, with family by her side, on September 15, 2026.
Gigi was born on August 23, 1935 in Neenah, Wisconsin, to Horace and Alice (Burns) DuBois. Growing up in Neenah, Gigi was an accomplished sailor, competing regularly in regattas in and around the Fox River Valley, racing her D Scow “G-Whiz” on Lake Winnebago. After graduating from Neenah High School, Gigi attended and graduated from UW-Madison in 1956. While at the UW, Gigi was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority, where she met and made life-long friends.
On December 27, 1956, Gigi married Robert T. (Buzz) Holland, III. Gigi and Buzz lived in Madison, raising five children, until 1967, when they purchased a farm outside New Glarus and moved the family to the farm. Over the years, in addition to the Holland family, the farm was home to dozens of horses and ponies, Duroc pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese, dogs, and countless cats. A huge garden was an annual project, and the children were tasked with weeding the garden (for what seemed like hours) before being allowed to ride their bikes (four miles) into New Glarus to go to the village's swimming pool.
Remaining content is for members only.
Please become a free member to unlock this article and more content.
Subscribe Now
