Obit: Hamel, Mahlon. G. (1892 –1976)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Hamel, Grahn, Zouave, Flentie, Fentzling, Sweet

---------Source: Owen Enterprise (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 07 Jul 1976

Hamel, Mahlon. G. (14 Jun 1892 – 01 Jul 1976)

M. G. (Mahlon) Hamel, who was prominent in instrumental music circles in Wisconsin, and had taught and directed junior and senior high school bands of a dozen Central Wisconsin communities,, was found dead by a neighbor Thursday evening at his home on Route 1, Arpin. Death was attributed to either an apparent heart attack or stroke. He was 84.

Services were at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Bethel, with Elder Larry P. Grahn officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mr. Hamel was born June 14, 1892 in North Loup, Nebraska, and attended the Appleton schools. At the age of 18 he became one of the youngest licensed barbers in the state, but at 19 he abandoned the profession to travel with Ewing Zouave Band of Champaign, Illinois, and later a season with the Ringling Brothers Circus Band, who director at the time was the late Al Sweet. He then returned to Appleton to play in name bands.

After his marriage in Bessemer, Michigan on February 22, 1916, to the former Irene Flentie, he bought a barbershop in Unity. A year later he moved to Kintyre, N.D., and started a community band and dance orchestra. Mr. and Mrs. Hamel celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1966. She died September 9, 1968.

Mr. Hamel returned to Wisconsin in 1920 and organized Hamel’s Tri-City Band, composed of musicians from Dorchester, Abbotsford, and Colby. He began his band teaching career in schools at Unity and Abbotsford in 1925, and added Colby to the list in 1927. At one time he taught simultaneously in schools at Abbotsford, Medford, Colby, Owen and Withee, while also directing community bands at Abbotsford, Milan and Spencer.

The Hamels lived in Dorchester from 1925 to 1929, and then moved to Bethel. He was band instructor in Withee for 15 years, Owen for 8 years, and with the Greenwood school for 19 years, and the Loyal school for 12 years, served the Pittsville School as instructor for 18 years, Stanley for 15 years, and the Medford schools for 8 years.

While instructing at Colby in 1930, Mr. Hamel organized, taught and conducted what he termed, “the first 4-H Club band in the world.” He later also taught instrumental music in the Marshfield Catholic Grade School

He was a member of the Seven Day Adventist Church.

Survivors include four sons, Louis, Madison, Dr. Paul Berrien Spring, Michigan, and Dr. Neal and Lyle, both of Los Angeles, California; a daughter, Miss Beryl Hamel, Rhinelander; two brothers, Royalle and Courtland, both of Withee; a sister, Mrs. Bernice Fentzling, San Louis Obispo, California; 22 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son.