Robert Dean Hamel, father and grandfather extraordinaire, of Windcrest,
Texas departed this earth on December 26, 2021 with his children at his
side. He was beloved by his family and friends who knew him as a kind
and generous man who always had a story to tell. No one told a story
better than Grandpa Dean, smoked better ribs, watched more football, or
baked a better pie. It was a split decision if his apple caramel pie or
his sour cream raisin pie was the winner. He had a long and
complicated relationship with the Dallas Cowboys.
Born in Hays, Kansas, to Harry and Nona Hamel, Dean was the middle
of three sons. Raised in Zurich, Kansas to work hard on the family farm
until it burned down and the family moved into town. He spent years
working with his dad on construction around the area.
Dean was a 3 sport athlete at Palco High School with a special love
for football. Once approached by Notre Dame alumni who told him it was
his Catholic duty to play football for the Fighting Irish, he asked them
how he would pay for the tuition. Their response was “God will find a
way”. Needless to say, he attended Fort Hays State University at age 17
and graduated with a history and political science double major. While
at Fort Hays, in his own words, he “joined a fraternity, drank quite a
bit, tended bar, got average grades, and upon graduating still didn’t
want to go to work for a living, so he decided to go to Law School”.
Dean graduated from Washburn Law School in 1961. While at Washburn
he worked at the Boys Industrial School, a youth correctional
institution. He considered this one of the highlights of his life
because of the friendships he made, and it taught him a great deal about
human nature. He was also able to use this experience later in life as
a criminal attorney.
He joined the US Army as an Infantry officer in January of 1962,
then attended the course for Army Lawyers in Charlottesville, Virginia.
His army career took him to Colorado Springs, Virginia, Missouri,
Kansas, Hawaii, Korea, Germany, Maryland, and finally his home of Texas.
He served as a trial attorney, prosecutor, international law and
procurement attorney, claims service, and as the Staff Judge Advocate.
He retired as a full colonel in August of 1990. After his retirement,
he passed the Texas bar and became the Chief of Acquisition Law with the
Fort Sam Houston Medical Command. He retired for good in August of
2000.
Of all his many accomplishments, Dean considered his family his
greatest source of pride. He was a wonderful father, grandfather,
brother, uncle, and friend. Dean’s passing leaves a hole in the lives
of all who knew him.
He is survived by his 3 children Mark Hamel, Melissa Riley (m. Dan
Riley), Christopher Hamel (m. Melissa Hamel), his 12 grandchildren
Michael Hamel (m. Molly Hamel), John Hamel (m. Sierra Hamel), Paul
Hamel, Brian Riley, Liam Riley, Erin Peters (m. Scott Peters), Brandon
Hamel, Ryan Hamel (m. Brianna Hamel), Adam Hamel, Kyle Hamel, Joel
Hamel, Luke Hamel, great grandson Samuel Hamel. Brothers and sisters
in-law Gary and Gloria Hamel and Tom and Nancy Hamel, as well as many
loved nephews and nieces.
Click HERE for service details.