James H. Hamlin, 83, of Merrill, died Monday, March 24, 2014 at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.
He was born March 30, 1930 in Merrill, son of James Harvey and Margaret Running Hamlin. James began working as a farm hand for local farmers and later worked as a carnival worker where he managed Kiddy Land rides for Belle City Amusements and then James E. Straits Show. He was preceded in death by his parents, half-brother Edmund Hamlin, half-sister Lorraine Liberty, sister Esther Wittkop, brothers-in-law James O’Day, Thomas Schultz, Vernon Wittkop, Jack LanghLois and Anthony Robl and a sister-in-law Lucille Krause Hamlin. He is survived by his sisters, Alice O’Day of Merrill, Elaine Schultz of Eau Claire, Eunice Langlois of Colorado Springs, CO, Margaret Robl of Merrill and Claudia (James) Roberts of Merrill; brothers, Reid (Lois) Hamlin of Oshkosh, Joseph Hamlin of Sturgis, MI, William (Mary Lou) Hamlin of Eudora, KS, Donald (Liz) Hamlin of Belmont, NH and Wayne Hamlin of Rhinelander, WI; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and half nieces and nephews.
The celebration of life for James will be held later to accommodate absent family members. Waid Funeral Home in Merrill is caring for James’ family and online condolences may be left at www.waidfuneral.com.