Lowell B. Vander Hamm

Lowell B. Vander Hamm, 92, of Fairfield, Iowa, died Thursday, November 6, 2014 at Jefferson County Health Center, after his battle with acute myeloid leukemia.

He leaves his wife of 65 years, Helen (Simon) Vander Hamm; Susan and Richard Strobl of Hagerstown, MD; Sherry and Rick Ogren of Lone Tree, IA; and Scott Vander Hamm and Dr. Kren Shriver of Brooklyn, NY. Lowell was blessed with two grandchildren, 4 step-grandchildren, one great grandchild, 9 great -step grandchildren and two great-great-step grandchildren.

Lowell was born May 12, 1922 in Ireton, IA, the son of Herbert Vander Hamm and Norma (Nuoffer) Vander Hamm. After high school graduation in 1940, he graduated from Northwestern Jr. College, Orange City, IA. He then began his studies at Iowa State University but his education was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps October 5, 1942. Active duty began February 14, 1943. Lowell served as the navigator on a B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber in the 8th Army Air Corps Division. Stationed in England, he flew many bombing missions over Germany as well as humanitarian food drops over Holland and POW return missions. After discharge from active duty, he entered the Air Force Reserves, retiring later as a Lieutenant Colonel. After the war, he returned to Iowa State University, was an active member of the national Lutheran fraternity, Beta Sigma Psi, and graduated June 11, 1948 with a degree in civil engineering.

While at Iowa State, Lowell met Helen whom he later married September 24, 1949 in Burlington, IA. After graduation in 1948, he worked for a short time as an engineer for the Bureau of Reclamations in Wyoming but returned later that year to accept a position in Marshalltown, IA with the Iowa Highway Commission (currently the IDOT) where he remained for twelve years. In January 1962, he moved with his family to Fairfield, IA due to a transfer to the District 5 Office of the DOT. At different points in his career with the DOT, he served as a construction, maintenance and materials engineer and retired as a local systems engineer September 25, 1987.

Lowell loved working in his yard and garden and feeding the wildlife. He also had a great passion for record keeping. He was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church where he served the church in many capacities.

Visitation will be at 1 pm Wednesday, November 12 at First Lutheran Church, Fairfield, IA. Funeral services will follow at 2 pm with Pastor Stacy Grau officiating. Interment will take place at Fairfield Evergreen Cemetery, Fairfield, IA.

Memorial donations may be directed to First Lutheran Church, Fairfield, IA, Hospice Compassus or McCreery Cancer Center (Jefferson County Health Center, Fairfield, IA).