Darwin G. Hamel

Darwin "Jake" Hamel died Friday, January 23, 2009 at the Columbus Community Hospital.

Darwin "Jake" Hamel was born April 18, 1927 in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska to Dwight C. and Margaret (Becker) Hamel. Prior to graduation from Peru High School he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during WWII and served from April 1945 - February 1948. Darwin married Lorraine Knopik on April 18, 1951 in Fullerton, Nebraska. He spent his career as a power company lineman for Nebraska Public Power District in Fullerton, Clay Center and Dodge. He semi-retired as owner and operator of a small mowing business where numerous grandkids learned the value of a hard day's work. In 1997 he fully retired and moved to Columbus with his wife Lorraine. His final years were spent enjoying his family, football, rodeo and horse racing. He was a member of St. Anthony Church, American Legion, Knights of Columbus and a past member of the Dodge School Board and the Dodge Village Board.

He is survived by:

Wife: Lorraine Hamel of Columbus, NE
Son: Tim (Somboon) Hamel of Sioux Falls, SD
Son: Chris (Stacie) Hamel of Omaha, NE
Son: Bruce (Diane) Hamel of Gretna, NE
Daughter: Becky (Curtis) Stecher of Dodge, NE
Daughter: Denise (Gary) Eikmeier of Dodge, NE
Daughter: Kimberly (Mark) Lenhart of Westminster, CO
Brother: Millard Hamel of Sun Valley, CA
Sixteen Grandchildren
Four Great Grandchildren

He was preceded by:

Father: Dwight C. Hamel
Mother: Margaret Hamel
Sister: Eileen Clements
Brother: Donald Hamel