Douglas Hamann

DOUGLAS GENE HAMANN was born on May 17, 1952 to Virgil and Marian (Huntstad) Hamann in Luverne, Minnesota. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Minnesota and later received his confirmation there as well. Doug attended Jasper High School in Jasper, Minnesota and graduated in 1971. He worked various jobs throughout life in construction, meat packing and food service. The happiest and most cherished day of his life was on August 18, 2016, when Doug was united in marriage outside the little chapel north of Luverne to his soul mate and the love of his life, Diane Hessel. Doug was on kidney dialysis for 26 years of his life. He never complained about going and said it was like going to work. That’s the kind of man he was. He never complained about anything. On May 3, 2019, Doug died peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 66 years, 11 months, and 16 days.

Doug’s hobbies when he was younger were softball, slow pitch, and shooting pool with his buddies. He played cards with his good friends in Buck Euchre tournaments and won many games. Most of the time, Doug could be seen wearing a hat, sunglasses and either a t-shirt or tank top pretty much all year long.

Doug loved watching sports. His favorite teams were the Minnesota Vikings, the Dallas Cowboys (he grew to love this team as it was Diane’s favorite), the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Minnesota Twins. He had hats to go with his teams and his cars. His most loved sport was dirt track racing, especially sprint car racing. He enjoyed going to races at the Rock Rapids Speedway, Huset’s Speedway (which recently had become Badlands Motor Speedway), and the Jackson Speedway. He would come home covered in dirt and loved every minute of it.

Doug loved his wife Diane, his children, his grandchildren, and his siblings very much. He loved spending time with his children. He enjoyed taking them to races, bowling, shooting pool, going to parks and having a great time at Thunder Road. His sister, Nancy, was his sports buddy. They would talk on the phone throughout football and basketball games and made sure to call each other once a week. Doug made everyone laugh with his impressions of Yogi Bear and Donald Duck. The Thanksgiving dinners at Roger’s and Deanna’s with good food and football were always very special. Doug had two favorite memories of time spent with his mother. The first, when he took her to see George Jones, Conway Twitty and The Statler Brothers. The smile on her face was priceless. They had so much fun. His mother cried because they were her’s and Doug’s favorite country western singers. The second, when the family took her to a NASCAR race in Atlanta, Georgia. She couldn’t believe she was actually there.

Doug had best friends in Gary, Mike, and Gordy. The group did everything together. They raced their cars, drank beer, and played pool and cards. There was a trip to Wyoming in which there was a lot of beer, laughs, and a great time had by all. These guys were his buddies for life.

Doug touched many lives. He was always caring, loving, and could get a laugh out of anyone. Doug loved life and lived it to the fullest. May he rest in peace.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Diane; children, Marie Kortlever of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Kathryn “Katie” (Bob) Deelstra of Hartford, South Dakota, Jared Kortlever of Sioux Falls, twin daughters, Chasity Butterfield and Carissa Butterfield, both of Muskogee, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Larissa Kortlever, Abigail and Jacob Deelstra, Greyson and Kingston Butterfield, Jason, Jayveon, Chyna and Jazzlyn Butterfield; siblings, Roger (Deanna) Hamann of Slayton, Minnesota, Gene (Barb) Hamann of Luverne, Barb (Larry) Olesen of Hurly, South Dakota, Neal Hamann of Hardwick, and Nancy Hamann of Aurora, Colorado. He was preceded in death by his parents.