Donald Edvin HAMPE

HAMPE, ANDERSON, HUBER, OLSEN, PARK, LEERAR, NORDMAN, BOHL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/8/2010 at 14:54:21

July 27, 1917 -- February 18, 2004

Donald Edvin Hampe was born July 27, 1917, in Miller, Iowa. He attended school in Britt but left in the ninth grade because of the Great Depression. He went to work for his father as a trucker at the Britt Rendering Plant. He met his wife-to-be at the Surf Ballroom and married Enid Joyce Anderson July 15, 1939. They lived in several different homes in Britt with children being born in l940, 1943 and 1944. In the summer of 1943, Uncle Sam called and Don became a member of the U.S. Navy. Don was honorably discharged in late 1945 with the rank of First Gunner’s Mate. Don returned to trucking until the spring of 1946 when he had an opportunity to begin farming on his own. With his three children and wife, they moved to a farm just north of Eagle Lake State Park. In 1947, the family moved to Corwith, Iowa, where he farmed until he retired in 1982. After 46 years of marriage, his wife, Joyce passed on in 1985. During those formative years of raising a family and running a farm, Don always enjoyed his fishing excursions with his family and friends. He would always have a story to go with the fish he caught and especially of the fish he did not catch. He also enjoyed woodworking. Don could be considered a charter member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, especially the present building. He dedicated many hours of his time, as did other members of the congregation in the early 1950’s in helping to construct the main body of the present church building. Over the years he held almost every church office: President, Finance officer, Luther League sponsor and High School Sunday school teacher. His position as the High School Sunday School teacher lasted for ten years, longer than for any other teacher of that class. Don showed his responsibility as a father and a Christian seriously not just by his words, but by his deeds as well. Don was a Rural Electric Cooperative Director, VFW member, a long-term member of American Legion, an American Soil Conservation worker, a voting monitor for Hancock County, did custom baling work and custom backhoe and combine work in Hancock and Kossuth Counties. Don’s life took a new turn in 1990. In the same place that he met his first wife, the Surf Ballroom, he met a new love, Dorothy Huber from Charles City, Iowa. In a small private ceremony at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Don and Dorothy married September 17, 1990. They moved off the farm in 1994 into Corwith where they resided during the warmer months of the year and wintered in Quartzsite, AZ. Until his first serious stroke at age 78 in December, 1995, Don was extremely active, had a friendly greeting for all and enjoyed his many friends. He would like it if we remember him in the following way: he loved fishing, which he did at every opportunity; he loved his family, shown by the twinkle in his eye; he loved people and always tried to find a positive quality in everyone he met; he loved his church and dedicated himself to the service of the Lord; he loved to fly, closer to heaven he said; he loved life, and lived it.

Don was preceded in death by his first wife, Enid Joyce, his parents Carl and Laura (Olsen) Hampe, a brother and his wife, Elmer and Norma, a sister and her husband, Marie and Don Park, and a brother-in-law Fred Leerar. Don is survived by his wife, Dorothy, his sister, Elsie Leerar and a brother, James and his wife Della, his three children and their spouses, Gary and Catherine Hampe, Laramie, WY, Clark and Patricia Hampe, Tyler, TX and Jim and Julie (Hampe) Bull, Clive, IA. He had 8 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. From the family that Don formed in 1991, he is survived by Roger and Bonnie Huber, Charles City, IA, Stan and Stella Huber, Urbandale, IA, Roger and Dottie Nordman, Marshalltown, IA, Dan and Carol Bohl, Mason City, IA and ten grandchildren.

Visitation:
Friday, February 20, 2004
5:00 PM until 7:00 PM
Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home
207 Linn St.
Corwith, IA 50430

Visitation:
Saturday, February 21, 2004
9:30 AM until 10:30 AM
St. John's Lutheran Church
Corwith, IA 50430

Service:
Saturday, February 21, 2004
10:30 AM
St. John's Lutheran Church
Corwith, IA 50430

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