Gary David Hambleton

Gary David Hambleton, age 84, of Malmo, MN, died peacefully on the morning of March 2nd with his daughter Kelly by his side in her Ironton, MN, home. 

Born in Braham, MN, on October 6, 1936, Gary grew up on the southeastern shore of Mille Lacs Lake, MN. In school he excelled in athletics.  Upon graduating from Isle High School in 1954, Gary then served in the United States Navy during the Korean conflict.  In the fall of 1959, he married his high school sweetheart, Jacqueline Lee Hemerick. Together they raised 5 children while Gary put his military welding skills to good use. 

From shop jobs to well drilling, skyscraper iron work in Minneapolis to electronic parts production management at National Connector in New Hope, welding instructor positions at Anoka-Hennepin, Willmar and St. Cloud Technical Colleges, to oil rig construction supervision in Saudi Arabia, AT&T communication tower construction in far-flung Antarctica to various local plumbing and heating gigs; Gary was always an enthusiastic, tireless, nomadic worker. This enabled the family to experience a diverse spectrum of life across several rural towns, suburbs and cities of Minnesota along with tales of his travels abroad.  Along the way, he squeezed in some college credits at Moorehead State University, Dunwoody Institute and St. Cloud State University and “hobby farmed” between Buffalo and Waverly.  In later years, he owned and operated Isle Plumbing and Heating Company and drove semis cross-country.   

Throughout it all, his community-minded spirit and boundless energy kept him volunteering.  He spent several years coaching youth and a community softball league and volunteer firefighting.  He also served stints as a Scout Leader, Sunday school teacher, church choir voice and Isle City Commissioner.  

Gary –aka Hambone – was a true renaissance man, a jack-of-all-trades, master jerry rigger, creative craftsman, teacher, mentor, problem solver and life-of-the-party jokester.  Since retirement in the mid 2000’s, he partnered in a wild rice operation near Malmo, MN, and worked as a machine shop manager, board member and trail volunteer for the Mille Lacs Trails Snowmobile Club.  Generous with his time and talents, he loved helping family with home improvement projects, sharing produce from his garden, cooking and baking using is blossoming chef skills and tinkering with wood crafts.  He lovingly fashioned frames and mats for his artist wife, Jackie’s, paintings.  Autumns and springs were spent in Carlton, OR, working as harvest mechanical engineer/handyman at his daughter, Jill, and son-in-law Brian’s, Belle Pente Vineyard & Winery.  He delighted in teaching his grand and great-grandchildren how to enjoy the outdoors, play cribbage and become strategic dice whisperers while playing the board game, Aggravation. 

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, William and Hannah Hambleton of Isle, MN; older Sister Verle Waters-Clark of Los Gatos, CA; younger brother Duane Hambleton and wife Phyllis of Eau Claire, WI.

Gary is survived by older brother, Glen Hambleton, and wife Donna of New Brighton, MN; older sister, Ellen Marpe, and husband Don of Duluth, MN; older brother, Dean Hambleton, and wife Jean of Isle, MN; younger sister, Gloria Pothast, and husband Gary of Duluth, MN; wife, Jackie Hambleton, of Malmo, MN; their children Nancy Jo Hambleton of Worthington, MN; Pamela Renee Hambleton of Glen, MN; Jill Jacqueline Hambleton and husband Brian of Carlton, OR; David Dean Hambleton and wife Cassie of Hillsdale, MI; Kelly Yvette Hambleton of Ironton, MN; thirteen grandchildren, one great grandchild, many nieces, nephews and extended family members. 

A Graveside service will be held at the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery in Little Falls on October 20, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. with full military honors.  A Celebration of Gary's life will be held on Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the MSA Flagship, 5357 Whistle Road, Isle, MN 56342.  Memorials are preferred to the MSA Flagship in Isle, the Ironton American Legion or the Great River Arts in Little Falls.  Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby.