Duane Hamm

SOUTH SIOUX CITY — Services for Duane Francis Hamm, 78, of South Sioux City were held Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, at United Methodist Church in Wausa.

Visitation was Friday, Nov. 23, at Mohr Funeral Home in South Sioux City.

Duane died Nov. 20, 2018, while surrounded by his family at his residence.

Duane was born Jan. 9, 1940, in Wayne to Benjamin Orville Hamm and Muriel Lavern Hagelstein. Duane graduated from Osmond High School in 1957. He loved sports and lettered in football and track. During his senior year, he was voted “honorary co-captain” by the team. Duane worked two summers on a ranch in Wyoming after graduating. He enjoyed a long softball career, pitching on various teams for 25 years. He met Sharon Jacob in January 1958. They were married Ghf1#5</#4<93/#lq#wkh#EorrpÚhog# Methodist Church. Duane began a long career in the newspaper business in seventh grade at the Osmond Republican. He worked dw#wkh#ZdnhÚhog#Uhsxeolfdq#dqg#wkh# Wayne Herald before purchasing The Wausa Gazette in February of 1971. He and his wife, Sharon, owned and operated the Gazette until 1983. After a brief waterbed business, he managed the Yankton Printing Company, a part of the Yankton Daily Press. He wrote a weekly column for the Norfolk Daily News and delivered regional Shoppers for many years after retiring. Duane participated in a number of organizations that brought him great fellowship, support and friendship. He often spoke of the juhdw#shrsoh#iurp#EorrpÚhog/#Do0 Anon, Senior Citizens, Country MusicAssociation and Great Plains Presbyterian Pilgrimage. He spent wkh#odvw#Úyh#|hduv#vkdulqj#olih#zlwk# special friend, Beverly Maiso-Bates. They especially loved weekly country music jams.

Duane is survived by four daughters, Jeana Hamm (Susan Niederhauser), Teresa Rotherham (Terry), Michelle Bloomquist (David) and Kelly Rojas (the late Danny Rojas). Duane loved his grandchildren, Emily Hamm, Megan Hamm, Elizabeth Jasper, Sam Jasper, Matthew Rotherham, Michael Rotherham, Dustin Bloomquist, Jordan Bloomquist, Kristin Vossler, Johnny Janda, Stephanie Janda, and Andrew Janda. He is also survived by his precious great-grandchildren, Emma and Delaney Bloomquist and Austin and Adrianne Kennedy; brother-in-law, Ramon Lush; and his faithful dog, Rascal.

Duane was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon; parents and grandparents; son-in-law, Danny Rojas; younger sister, Twila Edwards Lush; aunts, uncles and cousins.

Lq# olhx# ri# Ûrzhuv/# phpruldo# donations in Duane’s name may be made to St. Jude’s Hospital.