John E. Hamilton

A Celebration of Life Service for John E. Hamilton, 72, of Chariton, will be held Monday, April 26, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Hamilton Cabin on the east side of West Lake, 48352 218th Trail, Chariton, IA 50049. Interment will follow at the Chariton Cemetery.

You may also view the service on Monday by following the link: https://my.gather.app/remember/john-hamilton

Family will receive friends on Sunday, April 25th, from 1:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton.

Memorials in John's name may be made to his family to be used to plant trees at the Lake View Golf Course and for a bench to be placed at the Lucas County Fairgrounds.

John Ernest Hamilton was born in Le Mars, Iowa to David and Ellen Eyres Hamilton on April 14, 1949. He was raised on the family’s dairy farm and attended and graduated from Remsen-Union High School in 1968. After high school, he continued his education by pursuing his degree in Animal Science at Iowa State University. While at ISU, John and his roommate, Dave Todd, were intramural table tennis champions, which was a badge of honor.

While in high school and attending a church hayride, John made his smoothest move, by putting his arm around a girl named Cindy Dumas. The couple married on July 1, 1971 in LeMars and made their first home in West Union, Iowa. John had worked for Paulin Construction through his summers and high school and continued to work with them until landing a job with the Federal Land Bank in West Union. The couple moved to Chariton after accepting the manager position at the Federal Land Bank in Chariton. John then worked for the Hawkeye Bank through several name changes and over 30 years and retired from Great Western Bank. John was an asset to his employers and was greatly admired and trusted by his clients.

John and Cindy were blessed with three children: Susie, Hilary, and Phil. The Hamilton family has enjoyed yearly summer vacations together and most recently spending lots of time together at the Hamilton family cabin where Grandpa was the grill master, made delicious chocolate malts, and played games.

John used his carpentry skills to improve their home, the cabin, and his garage. He very much enjoyed time spent at the lake and always felt at peace there. He also loved to take a drive in his ’72 Chevy pickup Beauty. John loved all athletics and enjoyed playing basketball, slow pitch softball, and his passion was golf.

John Hamilton has lived in Chariton since 1976, contributing greatly to the local social and business community. He enjoyed singing with his friends in the barbershop quartet, “Boys Night Out” for many years. John had served on the Chariton Community School Board and Housing Committee, as well as being a member of the Lucas County Extension Council, Aeolian Singers, Lucas County Development Corporation, Rathbun Lake Resort Board, Chariton’s Board of Adjustment and Planning and Zoning, Lucas County Compensation Board, and Chariton Valley Regional Planning and Development Board. In 1991, he was co-chair of the successful Middle School bond issue and in 1993, recognized as the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year. He was a long-time member of Rotary and was instrumental in the work to bring the Honey Creek Resort to southern Iowa. John also held a real estate license with Kent Farm Management and Real Estate.

John passed away peacefully at his home on April 20, 2021. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Cindy; children: Susie (Eric) Johnson, Hilary (Seth) Masters, and Phil (Abby) Hamilton; grandchildren: Stuart, Ellie, Zoey, Grady, Eli, and Nellie; siblings: Bob Hamilton and Jean Bertram; along with nieces, nephews, relatives, friends, and a whole community.

He is preceded in death by his parents: David and Ellen Hamilton; brother, Tom Hamilton; and infant sister, Jo Ellen.