Robert Hamlin

July 15, 1921 – July 10, 2008

Robert Hamlin, 86, of Belleville, Ill., born July 15, 1921, in St. Louis, Mo., passed away peacefully Thursday, July 10, 2008, at home surrounded by his loved ones.

Bob fullled his life's goal by being the most devoted and unconditionally loving husband and father. He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish, the American Legion, a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and the Carpenters Local 169.

Bob distinguished himself in both his military and professional careers. He served with the Army-Air Corps during World War II. He was a waist gunner flying in a B-17 with the 8th Air Corps, the 3rd Division, the 13th Combat Wing, in the 95th Bomb Group, the 334th Squadron, Station 119, in Horham, England. He was in the first bomb group to bomb Berlin. He received three Presidential Unit Citations for leadership and valor on missions to Berlin, Muenster, and Regensburg, Germany, He received a Purple Heart for wounds received against the enemy in Cologne, Germany when the plane he was flying in was hit by an 88 mm shell, just missing the number two gasoline tank by four inches. The plane had more than 650 flak holes by the time it landed. He received the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters for heroic and meritorious service while participating in 35 aerial flight combat missions. Bob also received the Army Good Conduct Medal; the European-African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal which included three Bronze Star Participations for missions to Northern France, Rhineland, Germany, and Ardennes, France; and the World War II Victory Medal.

Bob's profession was that of a carpenter. He left a good paying and steady job working in a packing house to follow his dream of becoming a carpenter. Of course, everyone thought he was "crazy". He proved to all that with determination, hard work, and faith dreams do come true. In May, of 1950, at the age of 49, Bob started Hamlin Cabinet Shop, Inc. His business was a phenomenal success. He had the "shop" in East St. Louis and a contract with Monsanto.

He was preceded in death by his dearly loved wife of 67 years, Elizabeth, nee Raetz, Hamlin; his mother who was born in Commercy, France, Marie Louise, nee Jochim, Hamlin; his father, Edward Hamlin; a sister, Rose Carter; a granddaughter, Carrie Hamlin; a daughter-in-law, Lisa Hamlin; a nephew, Ronald Hamlin; sisters-in- law, Dolly Hamlin and Mary Allen; and brothers-in-law, William, Vincent, and Joseph Raetz, and Ralph Allen.

Surviving loved ones are his daughters, Patricia Shevlin and Louise (Carlton) Hamlin-Laird; his sons, Robert (Betsy) Hamlin, Nicholas Hamlin, and Daniel Hamlin; a brother, Donald (Judy) Hamlin; a sister Yvonne (Bill) Fosnock; a brother-in-law, James Carter; grandchildren, Kim Shevlin, Scott (Terri) Shevlin, Amy (Jason)

Wagenknecht, Sarah (Mark) Bruemmer, Kyle Hamlin, Lindsey Laird, Caitlyn and Morgan Hamlin; great- grandchildren, James Johnson, Brian Shevlin, Carrie, Chloe, and Chase Wagenknecht; sisters-in-law, MaryLou Raetz and Adelaide Raetz; nieces, June Forgerson and Cathy Barbeau (who was like a daughter); nephews, Ronald Raetz (who was like a son), David Raetz, Richard Hamlin, Timothy Raetz; and dearest loved one, Barb Mane.

Many thanks to the Poor Clare Sisters for their gracious and never ending prayers, to Father Clyde Grogan for his love, compassion, prayers, and spiritual guidance, and to Hospice of Southern Illinois for their wonderful care of Bob.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, the Poor Clare Sisters, or to Blessed Sacrament Parish. Dad,

We salute you, our teacher, our mentor, our friend, and our hero. Because of you we feel inspired. We know that the best and most beautiful things in life cannot be seen or touched; they must be felt with the heart. We know generosity and kindness. We learned there is always a silver lining and to keep looking until it is found. We learned that age is only a number and you are never too old to learn something new. We learned the love of travel and to love life's' adventures. We learned the preciousness of life and to savor every moment as if it was your last. To look for new challenges and to never be afraid to take calculated risks. Because of you we live in a free country and we learned the importance of patriotism, truth, justice, equality, liberty, courage, fearlessness, freedom, integrity, personal responsibility and working hard.

Belleville News-Democrat, The (IL) - Sunday, July 13, 2008