Duane Hamm
June 17, 1924 — January 6, 2012
Duane Hamm
Duane Hamm, 87, of Middleburgh, died at his home on January 6, 2012. "Hammy" was born on June 17, 1924, a son of Ralph and Gladys (Morey) Hamm on the family farm in West Fulton. He attended one room school houses in the Hamm school district and West Fulton until the sixth grade. He entered the Middleburgh Centralized School in the seventh grade and graduated in 1942.
In the same year, Hammy enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp and trained to become a pilot at Springfield College in Massachusetts. In 1944, he earned his wings and entered active duty. Hammy flew B24 Bombers on numerous missions over Germany while stationed in Old Buckingham, England. In one of his "unauthorized" flights in the states, he took his B24 plane and crew and flew down the West Fulton valley over his family farm, so close that he and his family could see each other. He was discharged after the war and worked for his father-in-law Perry "Doc" Shoemaker while also continuing to fly private planes from the Middleburgh airport.
Hammy was a well-respected New York State Conservation Officer from 1958 to 1979. During his spare time, he cut pulp wood in the hills of West Fulton until he was 71. In the 60's and 70's, Hammy traveled and hunted big game around the world. He shared his adventures with local organizations through his many slide shows.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Alice "Shoemake", his constant caregiver until the end; sons, Roger (Trina) of Florida, Gary (Mary) of Middleburgh, Ron (Kathy) of Florida; daughter, Donna (Steve) Schilde of Sharon Springs; grandchildren, Eric Hamm of Middleburgh, Tara (Andrew Wright) of Scotland and Dana Hamm of Middleburgh, Cache Hamm of Colorado, Mark and Sam Schilde of Sharon Springs; a great- grandchild, Owen Henry Hamm Wright (Tara and Andrew) of Scotland; siblings, Gerald (Janice) Hamm of West Fulton and Iva (Don) Painter of Schenectady. He was preceded in death by brothers Dorwin and Roger.
A private burial will be held at a later date at the Breakabeen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care at http://www.cahpc.org/donate.htm
Arrangements have been entrusted to Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home, 134 River St., Middleburgh and Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill.
In the same year, Hammy enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp and trained to become a pilot at Springfield College in Massachusetts. In 1944, he earned his wings and entered active duty. Hammy flew B24 Bombers on numerous missions over Germany while stationed in Old Buckingham, England. In one of his "unauthorized" flights in the states, he took his B24 plane and crew and flew down the West Fulton valley over his family farm, so close that he and his family could see each other. He was discharged after the war and worked for his father-in-law Perry "Doc" Shoemaker while also continuing to fly private planes from the Middleburgh airport.
Hammy was a well-respected New York State Conservation Officer from 1958 to 1979. During his spare time, he cut pulp wood in the hills of West Fulton until he was 71. In the 60's and 70's, Hammy traveled and hunted big game around the world. He shared his adventures with local organizations through his many slide shows.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Alice "Shoemake", his constant caregiver until the end; sons, Roger (Trina) of Florida, Gary (Mary) of Middleburgh, Ron (Kathy) of Florida; daughter, Donna (Steve) Schilde of Sharon Springs; grandchildren, Eric Hamm of Middleburgh, Tara (Andrew Wright) of Scotland and Dana Hamm of Middleburgh, Cache Hamm of Colorado, Mark and Sam Schilde of Sharon Springs; a great- grandchild, Owen Henry Hamm Wright (Tara and Andrew) of Scotland; siblings, Gerald (Janice) Hamm of West Fulton and Iva (Don) Painter of Schenectady. He was preceded in death by brothers Dorwin and Roger.
A private burial will be held at a later date at the Breakabeen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care at http://www.cahpc.org/donate.htm
Arrangements have been entrusted to Palmer & Shaylor Funeral Home, 134 River St., Middleburgh and Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home, 171 Elm St., Cobleskill.
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