Robert L. Hamilton

Robert “Bob” Hamilton
Sheldon, Iowa
Services for Robert L. Hamilton, age 90, of Sheldon who passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at his residence in Sheldon. His funeral service will be 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Sheldon United Methodist Church in Sheldon.
Burial will be at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.
Visitation with family present will be from 10:00 A.M. until time of service on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at the church.
Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to BEECIN Home Health and Hospice.

ROBERT “BOB” HAMILTON
Robert “Bob” Hamilton, age 90, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2019 at his residence in Sheldon, Iowa surrounded by family and friends.
Bob was born in Ashton, Iowa on August 14, 1928 and soon after moved with his parents Archie and Pauline Hamilton to Sheldon, Iowa. Bob attended Sheldon Elementary and graduated from Sheldon High School with the Class of 1946. He went into the Army right out of High school and spent one year in Korea with the 31st Infantry Regiment. After his military service, Bob went to Sheldon Junior College where he met the love of his life, Kathy Forward. They both transferred to the University of Northern Iowa and have been married 68 years. They have two children, Diane (Bob) DeWaay and Jim (Barb) Hamilton; 5 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren. Bob spent 35 years with the U.S. Post Office walking 14 miles per day in rain and snow delivering mail in temperatures above 100 degrees and as low as 32 degrees below zero. As a self-described people person, he was known by almost everyone in Sheldon in those days since he had delivered mail on every city route throughout his career. Bob was also the owner of Hamilton Taxidermy where he mounted bison, deer, antelope, and many types of birds and fish. He obtained his museum taxidermy permit allowing him to mount and display several rare species. You can see some of his work displayed at the Prairie Queen Museum in Sheldon.
He was very active in local community services such as Scouting, serving as Scoutmaster, and was the Civil Defense Director for 12 years. Together with his wife Kathy, they served as chaperones for 8 years at Teenville, Sheldon’s civic youth center. For 50 years, Bob ran the “down marker” on the chain gang for Sheldon High School’s football program. He was formally recognized for his half century of service to the athletic program. Bob and Kathy spent all their summers on Lake Okoboji in Iowa and their winters on Lake Keystone near Tampa, Florida. In addition to enjoying fishing year-round, Bob obtained his captain’s license and operated the Queen as well as the 51-foot Princess on West Okoboji for 10 years. As Captain of the Princess, he provided narrated cruises, held weddings, hosted company parties and night cruises. Bob was also with the Trail Patrol providing safety and security while riding on all-terrain vehicles along the public trails around the Iowa Great Lakes. Bob and Kathy loved to travel and have been to all 50 states, most of Canada’s provinces, China, Japan, Korea, and spent 5 winters in Hawaii and one in Mexico.
He is survived by his wife, Kathlyn Forward Hamilton; brother, Donald R. Hamilton; 2 children, Diane (Bob) DeWaay and Jim (Barb) Hamilton; 5 grandchildren, Jessica DeWaay Kramasz, Colin DeWaay, Jordan Hamilton, Ian Hamilton, and Easton Hamilton; 4 great grandchildren, Taylor Olson, Josef and J.R. Kramasz, and Cy DeWaay.
He was preceded in death by his father Archibald (Archie) L. Hamilton, his mother Pauline Clemens Hamilton, and his brother Roger A. Hamilton.