Bob Dean HAMMOND

HAMMOND, FISHER, KEYSER, ROBERTS, TILGHMAN, OWEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/22/2014 at 16:42:22

April 9, 1923 --- December 16, 2013

Bobbie (Bob) Dean Hammond, son of Alealia (Fisher) and Jesse W. Hammond, was born on April 9, 1923, in Centralia, Ill. He moved from Centralia as a youngster to Peoria, Ill. His father managed a Kroger Grocery Store and Bob would go door to door selling “fresh” eggs. His family moved to Peoria, where he worked delivering telegrams to families who had lost loved ones in WWII, and delivering clothes for a dry cleaners. He bought his first car at age 12. It did not run, but he worked on it until it did!

He was drafted into World War II on February 5, 1943. He joined the 76th Infantry Division of the 385th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, E
Company, 2nd Platoon in February of 1945. He was a replacement soldier and part of the European Theater. He walked across Europe. He received the Bronze Star 60 years after he was discharged. He returned to the United States after his discharge on December 21, 1945, and moved to Eagle Grove, Iowa, where he managed a Sinclair Gas Station. Bob married Thelma Keyser on July 4, 1948, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. After a honeymoon, they moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where Bob graduated from Dunwoody Institute with a degree as an auto mechanic. They lived in Minnesota until 1952, when they moved back to Fort Dodge, living there until 1957 when they relocated to Eagle Grove, where Bob worked for the Ford dealership as a mechanic. In 1972, he started his own auto repair business, which he operated along with a dry cleaners until he retired in 1995. While in Eagle Grove, Bob was a member and Past Worshipful Master of Bower Lodge, and a member of Eastern Star. He belonged to VFW Post #642. He was an active member of the United Church of Christ, serving as Head Usher for a number of years.

Bob moved to Omaha, Neb., in 2001, to be nearer his family. He spent his winters in La Feria, Texas, for the last 20 years. After moving to Omaha in 2001, he became a member of the Mizpah Lodge No. 302 A.F.&A.M., and a member of the Tangiers Shrine. Bob introduced the family to camping in the early 60’s. They camped in old school buses, homemade campers, trailers, and fifth wheels. Many family memories were made on those trips. They traveled extensively during those married years visiting every state except Alaska. In 2009, Bob’s daughters helped him fulfill his dream to tour every state, and accompanied him on a cruise to Alaska.

Thelma and Bob celebrated over 60 years of marriage. She preceded him in death in 2008. Bob Hammond died on December 16, 2013, in Omaha, Neb., at the age of 90. He leaves behind his daughters, Marilyn and Jodi; son-in-law, Gary Roberts; grandson, Jonathan Roberts, and his wife, Maureen.; and sisters, Mary Jane Tilghman, Eagle Grove, and E. Sharon Owen, Marshalltown. He was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma; mother Alealia; father Jesse; and brothers, Donald and Jessie II.

Services were held on Saturday, December 21, at 11 a.m., at the First Central Congregational Church of Omaha. Interment was held at Forest
Lawn Memorial Park with military rites by Millard American Legion Post 374 and VFW Post #8334. Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann Dworak & Cutler Mortuaries and Crematories of Omaha, Neb., was in charge of arrangements.

Eagle Grove Eagle - Iowa
January 23, 2014