Jack W. Hamilton
Jack W. Hamilton, 92, of Sioux Falls, passed away at his home, on Friday, January 31, 2025. The family will greet friends for visitation from 5:00 - 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Miller Funeral Home (507 S. Main Ave. Sioux Falls.) Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, February 7, 2025, at 1st Presbyterian Church (2300 S. West Ave. Sioux Falls.)
A lifelong resident of Sioux Falls, Jack was born on August 23, 1932 at Moe Hospital to Pearl (Bresee) and John Hamilton. A graduate of Washington High School, Jack attended the University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD, receiving his BS in Business in 1954. He was a proud member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity and secured a lead in many Strollers shows.
Jack played baseball for the American Legion Post 15 and the Renner Monarchs. He was scouted and offered a tryout with the Chicago Cubs. He often joked if he hadn’t gotten married he would have pursued his baseball career and played for the Cubs. Jack was an active member of the United States Navy Reserve for nearly ten years.
On June 30, 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Judith A. Jacobson. Those in attendance described it as the hottest day of the century. On their honeymoon in Michigan, he started his career with Wolverine Insurance by attending training in Ann Arbor. After a few years in the insurance business, he became Managing Director of Sioux Valley Hatchery, a business owned by his father-in-law. About that time, Jack and Judy welcomed John (1960) and Ellen (1961) to the family. Growing up with a dad who worked at a chicken hatchery, John and Ellen thought Jack had the best job in the world, as he would often bring home some baby chicks to play with.
The family spent time every summer through 1978 at Jacobson’s lake cottage on Blanche Lake. There was a lot of swimming, fishing off the dock and out on the lake, shooting off fireworks on the fourth of July, hiking, hunting for frogs, chasing chipmunks, and washing the dog when she rolled in dead fish. Jack loved to get up early and take the little boat out to fish for bass. One summer when the kids were fairly young, Jack captured a big, hairy snapping turtle and gave it to a couple of ladies down the road who wanted to make turtle soup.
Jack and John participated in the YMCA Indian Guides program, which was for fathers with sons in grades 1-3. Jack was voted their tribe’s initial chief. When John reached fourth grade, Jack and Al Pfeifle coached the “Mark Twain Jets” Gray-Y basketball team for three years. The team had a perfect record, getting second place each year. Not to be left out of the fun, Ellen and a friend created costumes and pom-poms and stood on the sidelines cheering for the team. Needless to say, Jack and Al had the only Gray-Y team with cheerleaders. Jack continued coaching John’s Junior Hi-Y team for the next three years. He was proud of his players and kept close track as four of them went on to play for Lincoln High School.
Realizing hatching chickens was not his lifelong passion, Jack studied and obtained his securities license and began working for Waddell & Reed in about 1970. After a period of time, he moved on to Oppenheimer and worked 20-plus years with Gardner Financial Services, where he was District Vice President. He enjoyed working with numbers and helping his clients with their financial success. He had the unique ability to determine P/E ratios and dividend payouts off the top of his head.
Jack also believed in supporting his community. He delivered Meals on Wheels for over 30 years, many of them with his good friends Charlie and George. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church for 68 years and served as a Deacon and later as a Ruling Elder where he oversaw the Buildings and Grounds Committee for many years. His deep, bold bass voice was part of the choir for most of those years. When the original First Presbyterian Church was torn down, he spearheaded saving the stained glass. Not only was part of the glass repurposed at the new facility, but church members were given an opportunity to buy a piece of glass as a keepsake of the church. His legacy will live on forever at First Presbyterian Church.
Jack was a lifetime member of the University of South Dakota Alumni Association and also supported the University Athletics Department through the Howling Pack. He enjoyed attending football and basketball games and supporting the university. He was very generous with his financial support and also supported Feeding South Dakota for over 30 years, Children’s Home Society, LifeScape, and Augustana University, among others.
Jack learned about gardening from his father and passed his love of gardening on to John and Ellen. Jack became a Minnehaha County Master Gardener in 2000. He was granted Emeritus status in 2024 for his many years of service. He was instrumental in organizing the first community garden in Sioux Falls.
Jack was a founding member of Westward Ho Country Club. He enjoyed playing golf and tennis, but he excelled at golf. Jack won some club championships and had two Hole-in-Ones. He helped teach John and Ellen to golf, which resulted in the occasional family foursome. Jack and John participated in a couple of state tournaments and later teamed up in several Singing Legionnaire golf events.
As they eased into retirement, Jack and Judy enjoyed spending winters in Green Valley, AZ, where they met some wonderful lifelong friends. They were especially close with the Somerville's and Jack claimed Gordon was a brother from another mother. They attended Valley Presbyterian Church and sang in the 100-plus member choir. Jack enjoyed attending the University of Arizona basketball games and putting together the annual March Madness pool. He also started and for many years ran a college bowl game pool that he and John each won twice. Jack and Judy were avid travelers and especially enjoyed their trips to Greece and Italy.
Jack loved to sing. He sang with the Elk’s Chorus for many years. For the past 34 years, Jack has been a member of the Singing Legionnaires of Post 15. He served as the group’s treasurer for several years and was Singing Legionnaire of the Year in 2007. He and longtime friend, Claude Krause, recruited John to join in 2000. Jack also enjoyed playing the piano... the louder the better!
Speaking of 2000, that summer Jack welcomed his daughter-in-law, Kristi, to the family. His only grandchild, Quinn, was born in September 2003. Jack adored Quinn and they had a lot of fun playing in the big backyard and hanging out in their secret hiding place. Later, when Quinn began to play fastpitch softball and basketball on both club and school teams, Jack was almost always there rooting her on. He could barely hold in his excitement when she chose to attend USD.
Jack and Judy were married for 68 years and were together for 75 years. Jack had a full life and shared it with his family and friends. Grateful and blessed to have shared his life are his wife, Judy; son, John (Kristi) Hamilton; daughter, Ellen Hamilton; granddaughter, Quinn Hamilton; and beloved dog Max.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents.
Jack’s family wishes to thank the wonderful group at St. Croix Hospice for their loving care and the family of caregivers as well.