"Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad."

Robert Braxton Holland, affectionately known as "Brad," of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2025, at the age of 84, surrounded by loved ones. Born on July 22, 1941, in Micro, NC, Brad lived a life full of adventure, invention, and joy. He lived life on his own terms.

He left school in the 9th grade and joined the U.S. Navy at 18, where he proudly served. During his time in Long Beach, California, he earned his GED, attended welding school, and started a family with the birth of his two children, Brian and Tracy Holland.

In 1972, Brad returned to North Carolina and began working as a foreman at GE in Research Triangle Park. A skilled welder and natural tinkerer, he was always in his shop working with metal, dreaming up ways to make life easier. In the early 1980s, his creativity led to the invention of the Holland Grill, a revolutionary cooking system designed to eliminate flare-ups and improve outdoor grilling. His patented design introduced indirect heat cooking, a method that transformed the grilling industry and is still used in many grills today. Brad sold the Holland Grill Company and retired in 2006, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and excellence. He was driven by his motto: " If you're looking, you're not cooking! "

Brad was a man of many passions-quail hunting, fishing, softball, pool, and golf. He never met a stranger and was known for his infectious laughter, warm personality, and ability to light up any room. Friends and family remember him as the life of the party -a man who made everyone feel welcome and like they had made a friend in him instantly.

Brad shared over 30 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Dorenda "Dee" Holland. They met on a golf course and bonded over their shared love of golfing, two-stepping, and music. After retiring, they traveled together in their RV and eventually settled in a golf community in Florida. Seven years ago, they returned to Garner, NC, to be closer to family and to the state Brad always loved calling home.

Brad was preceded in death by his two older brothers, Charlie and Ed Holland. He leaves behind his loving wife Dee Holland; his son Brian Holland and daughter-in-law Robin Holland; his grandson Blake Holland, Blake's wife Caroline, and their six-week-old daughter Adeline; Brian's stepchildren Guidry Ramoin and Holton Ramoin, Holton's wife Julie, and their newborn daughter Sienna. He is also survived by his daughter Tracy Holland Wild and her son Merick Wild. He also leaves behind many friends and extended family that will feel the void he leaves behind.

Brad's legacy lives on in the grill that bears his name, in the memories of those who loved him, and in the countless lives he touched with his kindness, joy, and inventive spirit.