In Memory Of
Rusty Hamar
Rusty Hamar
Russell "Rusty" Hamar
A Memorial Mass forRussell ("Rusty") Hamar, 87, will be celebrated on June 23, 2010, at 12:30 p.m. at St.Patrick's Catholic Church, followed by burial at the Oregon Trail Veteran's Cemetery. Monsignor James O'Neill will officiate. A Rosary is scheduled at 6:30 pm on June 22 at Newcomer's. Rusty died on June 18, 2010.
Born on January 19, 1923, Rusty was the second of eight children, all but one born at home and all raised in Casper. With the exception of Texaco assignments in Sweden and Cuba, Rusty proudly lived with his family in Casper all of his life.
As a Staff Sgt. in the US Army Air Force during WWII, Rusty was a turret and then a nose gunner on a B24. He flew two bombing missions on D-Day. During his 15th mission, while bombing a refinery in Germany, his plane was shot down and crash landed in Sweden. He spent several months interned there. All five Hamar brothers served in the military.
After the war, Rusty returned to Casper, marrying his long time sweetheart Mary Doherty in 1947. They raised two children, daughter Karen Hamar Bittman(husband Bruce) of Marana, AZ., and son Jim Hamar. He was a foreman at Texaco Refinery, where he worked for 37 years until it closed. Rusty loved his family, fishing, boating, hunting, snow and water skiing, his dogs, fried chicken, his house, and his big television. For fifty years he was a member of the Casper Water Ski Club, where he taught many people to waterski and took science students on tours of Alcova Lake and the Canyon.
Whenever there was a pancake breakfast at Phillipsville, Rusty was the first person there. He was also a long time member of Elks Lodge #1353.
Once a Bronco season ticket holder, he and Mary traveled to Denver for home games. Recently, he became a Colorado Rockies fan. He and his family were charter members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
In addition to his daughter, Karen, and her husband Bruce, Rusty is survived by two grandchildren, Amy Hicks and Brian Bittmann, and three great grandchildren, Grace, Tom and Samantha Hicks. He is also survived by two sisters Ila (Gus) Heitzmann of Metairie, LA. and Linda (Bob) Coyne of Oklahoma City, as well as two brothers, Frank (Pam) and Glenn(Jean) Hamar of Casper. His wonderful wife, Mary, his son, Jim, brothers Curtis and Max, and sister Bethel all preceded him in death. He was also very proud of his many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to National Jewish Hospital in Denver or the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements are under the direction of
Newcomer Funeral Home.
A Memorial Mass forRussell ("Rusty") Hamar, 87, will be celebrated on June 23, 2010, at 12:30 p.m. at St.Patrick's Catholic Church, followed by burial at the Oregon Trail Veteran's Cemetery. Monsignor James O'Neill will officiate. A Rosary is scheduled at 6:30 pm on June 22 at Newcomer's. Rusty died on June 18, 2010.
Born on January 19, 1923, Rusty was the second of eight children, all but one born at home and all raised in Casper. With the exception of Texaco assignments in Sweden and Cuba, Rusty proudly lived with his family in Casper all of his life.
As a Staff Sgt. in the US Army Air Force during WWII, Rusty was a turret and then a nose gunner on a B24. He flew two bombing missions on D-Day. During his 15th mission, while bombing a refinery in Germany, his plane was shot down and crash landed in Sweden. He spent several months interned there. All five Hamar brothers served in the military.
After the war, Rusty returned to Casper, marrying his long time sweetheart Mary Doherty in 1947. They raised two children, daughter Karen Hamar Bittman(husband Bruce) of Marana, AZ., and son Jim Hamar. He was a foreman at Texaco Refinery, where he worked for 37 years until it closed. Rusty loved his family, fishing, boating, hunting, snow and water skiing, his dogs, fried chicken, his house, and his big television. For fifty years he was a member of the Casper Water Ski Club, where he taught many people to waterski and took science students on tours of Alcova Lake and the Canyon.
Whenever there was a pancake breakfast at Phillipsville, Rusty was the first person there. He was also a long time member of Elks Lodge #1353.
Once a Bronco season ticket holder, he and Mary traveled to Denver for home games. Recently, he became a Colorado Rockies fan. He and his family were charter members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
In addition to his daughter, Karen, and her husband Bruce, Rusty is survived by two grandchildren, Amy Hicks and Brian Bittmann, and three great grandchildren, Grace, Tom and Samantha Hicks. He is also survived by two sisters Ila (Gus) Heitzmann of Metairie, LA. and Linda (Bob) Coyne of Oklahoma City, as well as two brothers, Frank (Pam) and Glenn(Jean) Hamar of Casper. His wonderful wife, Mary, his son, Jim, brothers Curtis and Max, and sister Bethel all preceded him in death. He was also very proud of his many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to National Jewish Hospital in Denver or the Alzheimer's Association. Arrangements are under the direction of
Newcomer Funeral Home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rusty Hamar, please visit our flower store.
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