Peter Hamel

Peter Cornelius “Cor” Hamel, of Oconto Falls, WI, formerly of Green Bay, died at home on Sunday, July 24, 2011 surrounded by all his children and many other family members. His gracious spirit has entered eternity with Jesus. He had turned 92 years old two days earlier. Cor was born July 22, 1919 to Roberta Van den Hoek Hamel and Rev. John C. Hamel in Indianapolis, IN. Later that year, the family moved to Marquette, MI, where Cor grew up, graduating from Graveraet High School in 1937. He attended Northern Michigan University in Marquette from 1937 to 1940. After officers training, Cor entered the U.S. Navy. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, he was assigned to the destroyer USS Maury and deployed to the South Pacific where his ship was involved in several significant battles. The USS Maury earned the Presidential Unit Citation, “for outstanding service,” 1942 to 1943. During World War II, Cor also served in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre on destroyer escorts USS Clarence L. Evans and the USS Rolfe. Cor married Marian Elizabeth Peterson on September 17, 1943 in Escanaba, MI. while home on leave. He left active duty service in the Navy in January 1946, separating at the rank of lieutenant commander. In 1946 Cor taught in Powers, Michigan, graduated with a B.A. from Northern Michigan, and began teaching at Graveraet High School, Marquette. In 1950 Cor received his M.A. from the University of Michigan and became a high school principal in Ontonagan, MI. He became superintendent of Goodman-Armstrong Creek Public Schools in 1954. While the family lived in Goodman, Wisconsin, Cor and Marian bought land at Lake LaFave next door to his brother and built the beloved family cottage. In 1958, P.C. Hamel became principal at Preble High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and he served there until 1977. He retired from the Green Bay Public Schools in 1981. He was a long-time Kiwanis Club member. Cor and Marian moved to Oconto Falls in late 1998 to live with their son Neil and daughter-in-law Robin, and their four children. Cor is survived by his five children and spouses, 17 grandchildren and spouses, and 11 great-grandchildren: Maury (Marcia) Hamel, Edgerton, WI and their children Mari (Paul) Shepherd, Matt (Carrie) Hamel, Megan (Matt) Durkee, and Melanie Hamel and great-grandchildren Ella, Emma and Grace; Alan (Therese) Hamel, Coon Rapids, MN and daughters Alison (Brad) Herndon and Anne Marie Hamel and great-grandchildren Norah and William; Judy (Kent) Demien, Menominee, MI and their children Kent Jr. (Mara) Demien, Mark (Kate) Demien, Rebecca (Anthony) Reale, Betsy (Bryan) Bicket, and Bethany (Justin) Salzman and great-grandchildren Luke, Peter, Andrew, Hosanna, Caleb, and Joshua; Mark (Pam Jenkins) Hamel, Minneapolis, MN and their children Nathan Hamel and Greg (Mari Bohnhoff) Hamel; and Neil (Robin) Hamel, Oconto Falls, WI, and their children Ariel, Rachel, Caleb, and David Hamel. He is also survived by his brother John Peter Hamel of Rockford, Illinois; sisters Mary (Wilbur) Burnett of Spartanburg, SC and Sarah Bignall of Manistique, MI; and many nieces and nephews. Cor was preceded in death by his wife, Marian, on April 1, 2000; his parents and sister Helen in 1976; his brothers Robert and John Hamel; his mother-in-law and father-in-law C. Gust and Louise Peterson of Escanaba, MI; and in-laws Jayne Hamel, Lee Wolff, Glenn Bignall, Tom and Jean Brayak, and Jack and Dotsy Berg. Visitation for Peter C. Hamel will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2011 at Spring Lake Church, 2240 Klondike Rd., Green Bay. The funeral service will be conducted at the church on Friday at 3 p.m. Cotter Funeral Home, DePere, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be expressed to the Hamel family at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, the family has established a memorial fund that will be donated in memory of Cor. The family would like to thank Heartland Hospice and Cor’s wonderful caregivers, particularly longtime caregiver Cheryl Kuhn, for their dedicated and caring service. The family would also like to especially thank Neil, Robin, Ariel, Rachel, Caleb, and David for opening their home and caring for Cor for the past 12½ years.