Ancil “Happy” Holbrook, 84, of Radcliff, KY passed away peacefully, on Friday, May 29th, 2026 at Baptist Health Hospital in Elizabethtown, KY, with his grandson and close family friends at his side.

Happy was born August 8,1941, in Ararat, Pennsylvania to Herman and Elizabeth Holbrook. He spent his early years in Pennsylvania farming and enjoying time with a large family. After high school, he joined the United States Army serving in the Korean War and Vietnam War. He was stationed at Fort Hood, TX, Fort Sill, OK, Gelnhausen, Germany and finally Fort Knox, KY.  Happy’s biggest accomplishment was being married to his best friend, Irene. In 1960, Happy met Irene in Ansbach, Germany. After quickly falling in love, he convinced Irene to leave her life behind and move to the United States to continue their adventure. The two married December 14th, 1963. In 1965, they welcomed their son, Donald Holbrook, while stationed in Fort Sill. In 1979, Happy retired from the United States Army, as a Sergeant First Class. After retirement, he worked another 20 years for the City of Radcliff, as the Superintendent, managing roadways. Happy made a lot of friends and he never met a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Holbrook; two sons, Donald Holbrook of Bolivar, MO; and Jurgen Welsch of Lichte, Germany; and his parents, Herman and Elizabeth Holbrook.

He is survived by two grandchildren, Hayden (Madison) Holbrook of Harrisonville, MO, Julia Welsch of Litche, Germany; and long-time neighbors and family friends, Howard and Heli Smith and Sandra James of Radcliff, KY.             

Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM, Thursday, June 4, 2026 at Chism Family Funeral Home. 

Burial will follow at the Kentucky Veteran Cemetery Central, Radcliff, KY with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Happy’s name to the Hardin County Animal Care and Control TNR program. In his later years, Happy enjoyed caring for stray cats that were fixed through the TNR program.