James "Jim" V. Hamann

James (Jim) Vernon Hamann was born in Minneapolis on November 26th, 1933, to Vernon and Veronica Hamann. He grew up in Robbinsdale and attended Robbinsdale High School, where he was very active in sports until his graduation in 1952.

The sport that sparked his passion above all others was golf. He started as a caddy at Theodore Wirth Golf Course when he was about 12 and was instantly hooked. Over the years, he even scored a few of the rare hole-in-ones. For a time, if you wanted to find Jim on a Sunday, your best bet would be the golf course. Later in his life, he could be found on the golf course at least three times a week. He participated in many golf tournaments over the years. He was so dedicated to the game that even a heart attack during the annual Sani-Flush tournament couldn't stop him from completing the 18th hole! He managed to get to the hospital just in the nick of time! 2023 would prove to be the first time he couldn't play golf in many decades, and he had to settle for watching it on TV.

He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1953 and was stationed in the nuclear testing program in Las Vegas. His time in the Marines would be the source of many stories and formed the basis for his compassion for fellow military service members.

Jim met Patricia (Pat) Schloeder, and they were married on September 12th, 1959. They would go on to have four children throughout their 28-year marriage.

Jim had many jobs over the years: lighting salesman, electrician, assistant athletic coach, and golf instructor. He served as a referee for youth hockey and youth basketball games. He umpired fast-pitch softball games and earned coveted inductions in the State High School Umpires Softball Hall of Fame, Minnesota Fast Pitch Association Hall of Fame, and the St. Paul Old Timers Fast Pitch Hall of Fame.

In his retirement, Jim and his long-time companion Delores traveled around the world to support and honor fellow veterans (and, of course, visit the nearby golf courses when he could). After Delores’s death, he met Diane and continued his travels and adventures until she died in 2019.

Jim was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), The American Legion, National Association of Atomic Veterans (NAAV), Navy Nuclear Weapons Association (NNWA), The Association of Air Force Missileers (AAFM), U.S. Strategic Air Command (SAC), Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Robbinsdale Historical Society, The Germanic-American Institute (GAI), and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

Jim left his mark on this life’s course and passed away peacefully on the evening of January 3rd, 2024.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Vernon, his mother, Veronica, and his brothers Michael and William. He is survived by his four children Sheila (Bruce), Daniel (Trish), Sara (Kalvin), and Joseph (Katie), brother Vince (Elrene), sisters Kathryn Madore and Mary (Bill) Lakotas, seven grandchildren, Alexzander, Allysa, Alayna, Kianna, Austin, Shayla, Ashton, great-grandson Aidan, and many nieces and nephews.

He is now enjoying a beer with his buddies and playing golf on the grandest golf course in the sky.

Our profound thanks to the Good Samaritan Specialty Care Home and Ecumen Hospice staff for their compassionate, kind care of our dad.