Jerrold Richard Hamm

Jerry grew up and was educated in Aberdeen, Saskatchewan and loved the wide-open prairie. He married Janice Spencer in Prince Albert in 1962, and they had three children Richard, Lyle (Steamer), and Alison. He worked in the newspaper media industry briefly and then took a teaching job with the Northern Lights School Division in Creighton, Saskatchewan in September 1965. Jerry earned his teaching degree from the University of Saskatchewan in 1980 and then earned an Arts degree in Madrid, Spain through the University of Windsor in 1984. Jerry never tired from learning and rigorous coursework and continued his academic quest towards a master’s degree. Jerry retired from teaching in 1995 in Creighton and then he taught in Medicine Hat and Brooks (Alberta) briefly before accepting a teaching job at Notre Dame College in Wilcox, Saskatchewan. He was proud to become a “Hound” and loved the many friends and colleagues he made during this time. With the fire for teaching back in his belly, Jerry then taught in China with his wife Virginia from 2004 until approximately 2012. It was during this time that his writing and painting really flourished as he captured his Asian experience in text and art. Jerry never ceased in his sketching and painting compiling a large body of work over his lifetime. His final painting, completed just before his passing, once again captured the beautiful imagery of his youth and adult life on the Saskatchewan prairie with a wide sky, and lightning flashing above three grain elevators on the horizon.

Jerry was predeceased by his parents, the mother of his children, Janice Spencer in 1999, and his wife, Virginia in 2013. Jerry is survived by his partner Ann de Vries, his children Richard Hamm (Victoria), Steamer Hamm (Heather), Alison Oulette (Rob), stepchildren Cheryl Switzer (Jamie), Faye Dumonkas, sister Merle Quart (Gary), brothers Eric Hamm (Beverly) and Donald Hamm (Carol). He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren Hope, KayLee, William, and Edouard and his extended family members along with teaching colleagues and friends in Canada, Spain, and China, and his Flin Flon Bomber Oldtimers hockey teammates.

Jerry loved to fish the northern waters of Saskatchewan in the spring and summer, especially the walleye holes at “The Notch”, “Richard’s Rock”, and the “Trapper’s Cabin” at Jan Lake. Many fishing stories were told around campfires of “White Rock” and “Pole-vault Point”. Naturally, these landscapes formed some of the imaginative imagery in Jerry’s artwork, especially the lone island in the middle of Dupee Bay. In September and October, Jerry could be found on the prairies near Aberdeen and Wakaw Lake chasing and hunting ducks and geese with his brothers, sons, nephews, grandsons, and many friends. And of course, there is Spain.

Jerry loved Spain and all that was and is Spain. He ran with bulls in Pamplona at least a dozen times. Jerry attended bull fights, Flamenco dance performances, and he loved walking through Plaza Mayor in the heart of Madrid. Back in Creighton and Flin Flon, Jerry would share his stories of Spain and bulls with active listeners, often dramatizing the standoffs between the bull and the Matador. In one of his final books called Farrago, Jerry wrote, “Fireworks were exploding in the rain above the city buildings and completed with the sound of hailstones machine gunning the terracotta rooftops. The roadway between the shops and the trees circling the plaza became a shallow river of hail of all sizes, food wrappers, and leaves – a sandal floated by the wine stall, someone’s red beret, and then the crowd started to sing: “Oh, oh, Pamplona” they shouted, “Caro Nome Che ll Mio Cor”, over and over like it was a Gregorian chant, and they were dancing in the shallow river, raising a foam on the water, ignoring the hail and the rain, leaping up and down. “Oh, oh, Pamplona, Caro Nome Che Il Mio Cor” they sang because it was fiesta.” (translated as Oh, oh, Pamplona, sweet name that made my heart!)

A man of all seasons. An educator – an artist – a philosopher – a son - a brother - a husband - a father – an uncle - a grandfather – a teammate - and a loyal friend.

It is said that the dignity of a human life is like a giant iceberg based upon the two-thirds laying beneath the water that no one ever sees. Jerry lived life on his terms and a gallant life it was! A life that touched thousands of people around the world – that engaged in cultures and diversity which brought tremendous pride to his family. He was a man that spoke directly and honestly and always tried to make the world around him a more beautiful place. Jerry travelled the world – touched the world – engaged the world – tried to explain the world through literature, through history, through art and through debate. Whether you agreed with Jerry or not, his voice earned the right to be respected wherever he walked and lived.

In the famous words of T.S. Eliot, Jerry’s life valiantly echoes, “We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time”. The life and death of Jerry Hamm should say to all those who know him that ‘it was a life well lived’.

He travels now to his next exploration and, all who love him wish Jerry, God Speed.

Jerry’s family would like to sincerely thank Dr. R. Gilbert and the Fort Saskatchewan home care nursing team for the kindness, friendship, and care they provided Jerry. In lieu of flowers, friends and family members may make a donation to Jerry’s favorite charity, World Vision, or to a charity of their choice.

Jerry’s final arrangements are being organized by First Memorial Funeral Services – Riverview Chapel in Fort Saskatchewan Alberta (https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca)

As per Jerry’s wishes, cremation has taken place and his ashes will be placed in Aberdeen with his parents and immediate family. A Celebration of Jerry’s life well lived will be held in Flin Flon in late Spring 2027