John L. “Jack” Hamele

PORTAGE  --  John L. “Jack” Hamele, age 85, died on Thursday, August 4, 2011 at Tivoli in Portage.

Jack was born in Portage, WI in August 3, 1926 to Albert and Rose Marie (Miller) Hamele.  He attended St. Mary’s School and was a graduate of Portage High School.  Jack joined the U.S. Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor.  He served aboard the destroyer escort USS Levy, and served in the South Pacific all during the war.  In 1950, Jack was united in marriage to Opal Burton.  Opal preceded Jack in 1984.  Jack was employed as a mechanic at Polnow Auto for many years, retiring in 1989.  He was a long time member of Portage Elks Club.  Jack was an avid hunter and fisherman, spending many hours in the woods and on the lakes.  He also enjoyed pheasant hunting trips to South Dakota, with close friend, Herb Jahn.  In 1988, Jack was united in marriage to Doris Olson.  They enjoyed their trips to Las Vegas and spending many good times with her four children.             

Jack is survived by his wife, Doris;  his four step-children, Lynn Olson, Larry Olson, Lynette (Norm) Barnard and Kathy (Mike) Neuhengen;  his sisters, Shirlee Reynolds, Bette Maass Hewitt, and Faye Wielgus;  his sisters-in-law, Catherine Hinickle, June Anderson and Peggy Rice;  his brothers-in-law, Bill Seeley and Arthur Burton;  many nieces and nephews, other relatives and close friends.  Besides his first wife, Opal, Jack was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Jean Ptaschinski and Marge Ashley, and his brothers-in-law, Lenus Ashley, Russ Maass, Clayton Reynolds, Jack Wielgus, Don “Red” Hewitt, Del Anderson, Bill Hinickle, and Don Ptaschinski. 

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage, with Fr. Jim Murphy presiding.  Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, August 8, 2011 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, and on Tuesday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Mary’s Athletic Program at St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage.