Golmore P. Kamerick

A Celebration of life will be held Monday, February 4th from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Melcher-Dallas. Golmore Price Kamerick was born February 4, 1918 at home near Pella, Iowa to John and Muriel (Sytsma) Kamerick. He was raised in the Pella area and attended country school. Golmore worked as a hired hand going on the threshing runs and doing farm work. In the late twenties he traded his horse for an Indian Chief Motorcycle. He and buddies traveled all over the country. He enjoyed riding his bike to the top of Mount Rushmore before it was finished and continuing on to California. He entered the Navy in 1941 and served, along with two of his brothers in the Pacific Theater. He served on the amphibious forces in New Guinea. While stationed in Rhode Island he met Gladys Bagley at a Chinese Restaurant in 1942. They were married in October of 1944 in Rhode Island. They were blessed with 6 children: Sharon, John, Carol Ann, Deborah Jo, Eileen, and infant son who passed away. Golmore was released from active duty in 1945 in Boston after a much decorated career; he earned a purple heart and several other commendations. They made their home in Providence, Rhode Island for 5 years before moving back to Iowa. Golmore worked as an auto mechanic, worked at a dairy farm, and worked at several factories in Des Moines. Golmore enjoyed traveling especially through the Rocky Mountains. He took many trips with his family, always driving. He loved his cars and often overhauled them after each trip, just because he could. He had a 1970's Pontiac that got special commendation from GM because it had over 300,000 miles. He also had a creative side and enjoyed painting and making other art pieces. His sense of humor was carried through his works of art. He was ornery and loved to tell a story. He could tell stories that were always changing and always entertaining even if you'd heard them twenty times. Everyone in the neighborhood will remember his garden, always having enough for his family and all the neighbors. The community will remember him with his bib overalls and fedora hat. He never met a stranger and would make anyone his friend. Golmore passed away February 1, 2013 at the Westridge Nursing & Rehab Center in Knoxville, 3 days short of his 95th birthday. Preceding him in death were his parents, John and Muriel; his siblings: Don Kamerick, Arnold Kamerick, Murray Kamerick, and Mary Lou DeVries. Golmore is survived by his wife of 68 years, Gladys; 4 children and 11 grandchildren: Sharon (Richard) Petersma of Pella and their children: Teri and Kathy, Carol Ann Jahner of Chicago and her children: Scott and James, Deborah Jo Kamerick of Des Moines and her children: Kolby and Quinten, and Eileen Kamerick of Knoxville and her children: Dustin, Amanda, and Bryce; and his late son John's wife Brenda and their children: Apryle and Natasha. Also surviving are 13 great grandchildren, his sister Edith Van Wyk of Grinnell, sister-in-law Leatha Kamerick of Pella and brother-in-law Hans DeVries of Des Moines, and many relatives and friends.