Richard D. Hamlin

Richard Dale “Rich” Hamlin, the son of John and Viola (DeNeui) Hamlin was born on January 6, 1939, in Sibley, Iowa, and grew up in George, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1957. On January 7, 1961, he married the love of his life, Rosie Koster. His love of animals and adventure would become his dreams.

Rich’s dream of building grain elevators and feedmills began at the age of 16 in Ashton, Iowa, and his hard work would lead him through a life long career. His first 25 years of construction began with Younglove Construction and took him through the states of Illinois, Ohio, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Kansas, South Dakota, Texas, and Colorado. In 1966, he and Rosie settled with their three children in Holstein, Iowa, when he built his first elevator in the town. After a partnership with Dean Lambert in Lambert-Hamlin, Rich became majority owner of Midwest Elevator Inc., which constructed the most recent elevator in Holstein.

Rich’s dream of animals led him to a hobby of raising and showing quarter horses. He showed many award winning horses, including his favorite class of yearling longe line. His children and grandchildren would also show many winners. He was a president of the Northwest Iowa Quarter Horse Association and a member of the Iowa Quarter Horse Association and American Quarter Horse Association. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church.

Rich shared his love of horses with his children and grandchildren and enjoyed summers with them at horse shows. He enjoyed playing cards and also loved talking with everyone and sharing stories and jokes with them. He especially enjoyed anything his grandchildren were doing.

This past Friday, April 18, 2014, Rich passed away from complications of a stroke at the Holstein Good Samaritan Society in Holstein, surrounded by his family and special caretakers. He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers in law, Vincent Koster and Art Koster.

Rich is survived by his wife of 53 years, Rosie, of Holstein; their children, Tim (Nancy) Hamlin of Winchester, Kentucky, Tammy Hamlin of Okoboji, Iowa, and Candi (Scott) Graff of Holstein; five grandchildren, Austin Graff, Maddie Hamlin, Jackson Graff, Tristan Hamlin, and Bailey Graff; sister, Carol (Roger) Armstrong of Omaha, Nebraska; brother, Doug (Deanna) Hamlin of Springfield, Minnesota; sisters in law, Yuli Koster of Orange City, Florida, and Romana Koster of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and may family and friends that will miss him dearly.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the care and visits that Rich received over the past eight years while residing at the Holstein Good Samaritan Center.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Cherokee Regional Medical Center Hospice.