Andrew Myers Hamke

He was born in 1925 in Rockville, Maryland to Albert Herman Hamke and his wife, Gladys Virginia Myers Hamke. Mr. Hamke served in the U.S. Army in World War II as an equipment operator with the 757th Engineers in the South Pacific. After the war, he returned to Rockville, Maryland and served for over 15 years as a volunteer fireman in the Rockville Fire Department. He moved his family to Highland, Maryland where he worked as a Stationary Engineer for Westvaco. Mr. Hamke continued to serve his friends and neighbors as a volunteer fireman in Howard County and as a deacon and dedicated member of Burtonsville Baptist Church. Later in life, he worked for CarMax before retiring to be near his children and grandchildren in North Carolina.

Mr. Hamke is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Billie Mae Hamke, of Cary, NC; his sons, Jeffrey Albert Hamke and his wife, Sandy, of La Plata, MD, and Dean Andrew Hamke and his wife, Lee Anne, of Cary, NC. He was the adored “Pop Pop” to Cynthia Ann Wagner of Biloxi, MS, Andrew Tyler Hamke of La Plata, MD and Deanna Jade Hamke of Cary, NC. Mr. Hamke was preceded in death by his parents. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at Rolling Hills Baptist Church, 11510 Johns Hopkins Road in Clarksville, MD 21029. Relatives and friends are welcome to join a brief reception to follow.

Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers are welcome at Wounded Warriors Foundation, The Durham, NC VA Hospital or a charity close to your heart.