Hamilton, Dave

Dave Hamilton, 83, of Grinnell, died March 11, 2013, at the Mayflower Community in Grinnell. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11:05 a.m. Saturday, March 16, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Grinnell, with the Rev. Nick Adam officiating. Organist will be Marilyn Kriegel, accompanied by St. Mary's Choir. Pallbearers will be Bob, David, Davis and John Hamilton, Jacob and Kyle Kersbergen and John Rocheford. Burial will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Smith Funeral Home, with the family present from 6 to 8 Friday evening.

Dave was born May 28, 1929, in Grinnell, the son of Alfred Byron and Maude (McGurk) Hamilton. He was raised in Grinnell and was a 1947 graduate of Grinnell High School. After high school he attended the University of Iowa. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict.

On July 4, 1958, he was united in marriage to Joyce Ann Petersen at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Des Moines. The couple lived briefly at Rock Creek Lake before moving to Grinnell in 1959. They were later divorced in 1972. He was an insurance agent for A.B. Hamilton & Son for over 50 years and later started Hamilton Travel in Grinnell.

He was a member of the Grinnell Elks Lodge and American Legion for over 60 years, a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and past president of the Iowa County and Tama County I-Clubs. He was awarded The University of Iowa Hawkeyes Volunteer of the Year in 2000 and had received Hawk of the Year from several I-Clubs in the area.

Dave loved sports and was very passionate about the University of Iowa athletic programs; he was an exuberant and loyal Hawk fan! He had attended the Knoxville Nationals for 51 years in a row and enjoyed attending Bowl games, World Series and MLB All-Star games. He was an icon at Iowa football and basketball games and for many years led fans to Iowa bowl games. Most importantly, was his love for his family and strong faith. He was a good friend to many!

Survivors include his three children, Margaret (Dave Hostetter) Kersbergen of Louisville, Colo., David (Belen) Hamilton of Madrid, Spain and Bob (Rachel Bly) Hamilton of Grinnell; five grandchildren, Jacob and Kyle Kersbergen and Sara, Sonia and Davis Hamilton; two nieces, Martha Rasure and Ann Thrall; and four nephews, Mark and Stephen Rocheford and John and Byron Hamilton.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Robert Hamilton; one sister, Kathryn Rocheford; and one nephew, Winston Hamilton.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Mayflower Human Needs Fund or St. Mary's Catholic Church Foundation.

Published March 14, 2013 in The Gazette