Allen Hamersma

Biography

HAWARDEN, IOWA ~ Allen Lee Hamersma, 66, of rural Hawarden, died on Monday, May 9, 2016 at his residence following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Funeral Service will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden with Pastor Steve Jewett of the New Horizons United Church of Christ of Akron officiating. Burial will follow in the Grace Hill Cemetery in Hawarden. Visitation with the family present will begin at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Allen Lee Hamersma was born November 9, 1949 in Hawarden, Iowa, the son of Albert and Evva (Schreur) Hamersma. He graduated from West Sioux High School in 1968. He lived in the Hawarden, Alcester, and Akron areas his whole life. Allen married Barb Janssen on March 21, 1980. He was employed at several beef packing plants and also at Staples for 23 years.

Allen was a lifetime member of the AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association). His passion was raising and showing quarter horses. He was a member of the New Horizon United Church of Christ in Akron, Iowa. Allen loved spending time with his family, grandkids, and his horses. He rode in the South Dakota Wagon Train in the 1980’s.

He is survived by his wife, Barb; three children, Todd and Tessa Hamersma and their two sons, Tyler and Tanner of Lincoln, Nebraska, Tim and Nicole Hamersma of Norfolk, Nebraska, and Brenna and Jeremy Barnhardt and their daughter, Lola of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Jean Ann Hamersma; and a foreign exchange student, Soledad.