In Memory
Thomas Michael Hammarlund
Nov. 28, 1943 - Mar. 10, 2006
Thomas Michael "Mike" Hammarlund, 62, of Riverside North Apts., passed away Friday morning, March 10, 2006, in Regency Place of South Bend.
The beloved son of Sidney and Doris (Hassenger) Hammarlund, he was born in South Bend and was a 1962 graduate from Central High School. Mike enlisted in the U.S. Army and then went on to officer candidate school. Mike joked saying he did not want to have to salute his younger brother Craig, who was a U.S. Air Force lieutenant. He attended a special warfare school. After that he was sent to Vietnam as a military advisor. There were only four Americans on his team and they lived and ate at times with the Vietnam villagers. Mike was exposed to parasites from the Vietnamese food, and to Agent Orange in the U.S. Army for 10 years. He retired at the rank of captain. During his military time, he spent time in Australia hunting kangaroo and visited Hong Kong. He was a U.S. Army veteran and received two Bronze Stars.
He then continued his education at IUSB and graduated with a degree in Public and Environmental Affairs. He worked a civil service job in the Detroit area and then moved to Florida and worked for an ex-colonel he served under in the Army. He eventually moved back to South Bend. He loved to fish. His biggest one caught was a 43" Chinook from Lake Michigan. He enjoyed playing pool and was a super player. He loved his three Maine coon cats, Hollywood, Calamity Jane and Clementine. He was an Elvis fan and attended several of his concerts.
His is survived by his parents of South Bend; a sister, Debby (William) Zoback; and a nephew, Jack. Other survivors include a sister-in-law, Sharon of Bellevue, NE; a niece, Beth of Minneapolis, MN; three aunts, Alyce Mae Hammarlund of Mass., Doris Newsom of Silver Springs, MO, and Mary Freeman of Austin, TX. Aunt Mary sent Michael many fruit cakes preserved in brandy and other things while he was overseas. Close family friends, the Witners of the Dearborn area, and veteran buddies, Delbert, Kenny and Bob also survive.
A special thank you to Jack and Jacky Reynolds, who provided much help and support.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Nina and Germane Hassenger, and Tage and Svea Hammarlund; uncle, George Hammarlund; and his brother, Major Craig Hammerlund, who died in 1991.
Memorial services will be Monday, March 13, 2006, at 3 p.m. in Morning Star Funerals and Cremations, 21275 W. Cleveland Road, South Bend, IN, hospice chaplain Nancy Cook officiating.
We would like to thank the staff at Regency Place and Hospice for the loving care and attention they gave Mike.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America, 7 Mill Brook Road, Wilton, NH 03086; or to Hospice of St. Joseph County, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.
01/29/2022 DEC
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