Hammersland, Harold Hanford --- 1923-2013
LOMMEN, HAMMERSLAND, KENYON, ADAMS, MCDONALD, JACK, BULLERMAN, BUSHMAN, BOYCE, LARSON, HANSEN, SPRINGER, RAYNER
Posted By: IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 7/4/2013 at 16:06:29
Harold Hammersland
Harold Hanford Hammersland, 90, of Ossian, Iowa died Thursday, May 16, 2013 at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa.
He was born on January 8, 1923, on a farm south of Ossian, Iowa. He was the second of 7 children born to Harold Martin and Agnes Theodora (Lommen) Hammersland. Harold was baptized and confirmed in the Stavanger Lutheran Church south of Ossian.
A graduate of West Union High School and the National School of Aeronautics in Kansas City, Harold worked as an airplane mechanic for Trans World Airlines (TWA) Intercontinental Division in Washington DC.
During World War II, Harold served in the 15th Air Force from May 30, 1944 to June 8, 1946. He trained as a flight engineer on B29 and B17 bombers, and was preparing to ship out to Europe as a sergeant in the Combat Crew Detachment when the war ended.
Following his military service, he returned to his job at TWA and worked in Kansas City where he met his future wife, Gladys Lorraine Kenyon. They were married on August 21, 1948.
In 1949, Harold and Gladys moved to the Lommen farm south of Ossian. As a farmer, Harold’s mechanical skill and knowledge held him in good stead for over 50 years, and was a gift he shared with his sons. Initially raising white face beef cattle, he transitioned to pigs, chickens and a dairy herd. When Harold retired from farming, he worked at various jobs at Schmitt Implement, Weiss Buick, Baumler Implement and Festina Welding.
Harold’s Christian faith and musical heritage gave him a strong spiritual foundation. Throughout his life, he would recall Bible verses and hymns he had memorized as a child in confirmation classes. His mother taught the family to sing in harmony while his father played the accordion. The family band made up of his 7 children was his pride and joy. In his later years, Harold enjoyed listening to bells chiming his favorite hymns in the sunny courtyard of the Iowa Veterans Home.
A lifelong member of Stavanger Lutheran Church, Harold was honored to be the keeper of the 150-year-old founding oak tree. Lightening felled the tree over twenty years ago, but he managed to salvage the remnant stump so that it continues to stand on his farm to this day.
In over 64 years of marriage, Harold and Gladys were blessed with 7 children, 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Harold is survived by his wife, Gladys; children, Thea (Bob) Adams of Buffalo, Minnesota, Eric and LuAnn (Neisen) Hammersland of Sedalia, Missouri, Leon and Anna (Kuennen) Hammersland of Festina, Neil and JoAnn (Brackin) Hammersland of Hawkeye, Gwen (Roger) McDonald of Ketchikan, Alaska, Beth Hammersland-Torres of Ketchikan, Alaska and Nena (Mark) Jack of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Rev. Henry and Shoko (Ichinomiya) Adams and Ryoma Hanford of Oxnard, California, Sara (David) Cardwell of Lees Summit, Missouri, Bret Hammersland and special friend, Amber Famuliner of Lees Summit, Missouri, Dr. Jamie and Amy (Bullerman) Hammersland, Owen and Griffen, of Elkader, Dustin and Kerri (Timp) Hammersland, Brexton and Jaxson of Cedar Rapids, Brice Hammersland and special friend, Callie Sinclair of Waukon, Dillon Hammersland and special friend, Jenny Kriener of Festina, Shanna Hammersland, Nader and Danah of Omaha, Nebraska, Lisa (Brian) Schadler, Mikala and Mya of Center Point, Brent and Ashley Bushman, Jacqueline, Brooklyn and Kally of Sumner, Jessica Bushman and Jared Siebrecht, Victoria and Keaton of West Union, Nicole and Stephen Langreck, Rilee and Aubree of Hawkeye, TJ Hammersland-Torres of Ketchikan, Alaska, Antoinina Hammersland, of Ketchikan Alaska, Logan Hammerlsand of Ketchikan, Alaska. He is also survived by sisters, Ada Boyce, Clarice Larson, Alice Hansen, Norma Springer and Marie (Franklin) Reyner and bothers-in-law, Earle Kenyon and Don (Ann) Kenyon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Martin and Agnes Hammersland, Ray and Olea Kenyon; sister, Sylvia Belschner; brothers-in-law, Arden Boyce, Harold Larson, Rev. Earling Hansen, Delbert Belschener and Kenneth Springer and sisters-in-law, Willa Kenyon and Dena Kenyon.
Visitation will be Monday, May 20, 2013 from 4-8 p.m. at Schmitz-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Ossian, Iowa and one hour before services at the church on Tuesday.
Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at Stavanger Lutheran Church, Ossian, Iowa with Rev. Terry Landsgaard as the officiant.
Burial will follow at Stavanger Lutheran Cemetery, Ossian, Iowa with Military Honors by the Members of Brockman Hammersland Post 503.
Schmitz – Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Ossian, Iowa is helping the family with the arrangements.
Taken from a funeral brochure.
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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