Wallace "Wally" Vander Hamm

Ireton, Iowa ~ Wallace Robert Vander Hamm, 85, of rural Ireton, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 at the Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City, Iowa
Funeral Service will be 1:30 p.m. Friday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church LCMS in Ireton, Iowa with Rev. Andrew Carlson officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the Ireton American Legion Bertram Post 276. Visitation will begin at noon Thursday, with the family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the Porter Funeral Home in Ireton.
Wallace Robert Vander Hamm was born May 21, 1930, one day before Lavonne, the woman who would be the love of his life. He was born in rural Sioux County, Reading Township, near Ireton, Iowa to Edna (Kading) and Robert Vander Hamm. He was baptized July 13, 1930 at St. John’s Lutheran Church and confirmed June 18, 1944 at St. John’s by Pastor C.D. Eifert. Wally attended rural school.
He married Lavonne Courtney October 5, 1952 in Onawa, Iowa. He served as a Sergeant in the US Army, Co. G, 31st Inf., 7th Division, in the Korean War. Wally was awarded the Purple Heart.
He started farming in Eagle Township near Ireton in 1954 and retired in May of 1995.
Wally was active in and past commander of the American Legion Bertram Post #276 and was awarded a 50 year pin in 2003. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and later transferred membership to St. Paul’s in Ireton in January of 1967, where he served as chairman and other offices. Wally was also an Eagle Township Trustee for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Lavonne; three children: daughter, Debra Rutlen and husband Craig of Minneapolis, Minnesota and her children, Thomas (Meredith) Bruner and Jonathan Rutlen; daughter Diane Schreur of Alcester, South Dakota and her children, Karen (Remco) Hermes, Rebecca (Ethan) Petersen, Ted (Kristi) Schreur, and Emily Schreur; and son, Robert Vander Hamm and wife Gail of Ireton, Iowa and their children, Kristy ( Ken) Damrau, Teri Vander Hamm, and Brian (Kara) Vander Hamm; 11 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Marian Moeller of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Joan Osterkamp of Alcester, South Dakota.
Wally was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Wilbur; sisters, Mildred Moeller and Myrna Vander Hamm; and brothers-in-law, Marlin Moeller, Melvin Moeller, and Ed Osterkamp.

Visitation

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. ,Thursday, July 2, 2015
Porter Funeral Home ~ Ireton
502 7th Street Ireton, Iowa 51027

Prayer Service

7:00 p.m. ,Thursday, July 2, 2015
Porter Funeral Home ~ Ireton
502 7th Street Ireton, Iowa 51027

Funeral Service

1:30 p.m. ,Friday, July 3, 2015
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
602 Main Street Ireton, Iowa 51027