\"\"    Thief River Falls – Kevin Hamre, 45, of Thief River Falls, died Saturday, June 21, 2008 at MeritCare Northwest Campus in Thief River Falls.
   Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 25 (today) at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Thief River Falls, with Monsignor Timothy McGee presiding. Casket bearers include Todd Collins, Randy Berg, Scott Peterson, Randy Wright, Keith Schmaltz, Reggie Bruggeman and Bob Bruggeman. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Thief River Falls.
        Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral at the church.
     Kevin John Hamre was born January 17, 1963 in Thief River Falls, the second of four children born to Leighton Henry and Marilyn Bernice (Salvhus) Hamre.  He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls. He attended Mark Twain Elementary School, Franklin Middle School and Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls.  Following high school, Kevin attended Normandale Community College in Minneapolis, where he graduated from carpentry school in 1984.
    In high school, Kevin met Jacqueline Swedenburg in science class when she was 16 and he was 15. The couple was married on May 14, 1983 in Minneapolis.  When his co-worker asked Kevin Monday morning, “so what did you do this weekend?” Kevin replied, “I got married!”
    The couple made their home in Chanhassen for a short time and returned to Thief River Falls in February of 1984 following the death of Leighton. There were three children born to this union, Ashley, Sarah and Jack and the family has continued to live in Thief River Falls.
     While growing up, Kevin played hockey and football and in his spare time enjoyed hunting and fishing, and wasn’t too bad at it. He also worked at Northland Foods.  Through the years, Kevin has worked as a carpenter.  He started working for his dad when he was very young, then worked for various contractors in the Thief River Falls and surrounding area. In 1997, he joined the Carpenters Local Union 606 Virginia. In 2005, he started the Handyman Hamre business which he operated until May of 2007 when he became a licensed contractor and started up the business Kevin Hamre Construction.  Kevin was very proud to have his son, Jack working with him.
   There was nothing with construction that Kevin didn’t know. Kevin has always had a good perspective on things and a quick wit, and would give anyone the shirt off his back.
    There were some sayings that he enjoyed: “I have laid more concrete than most people have walked on” and “plan your work and work your plan,” “if it was easy, women and children would do it,” “I’m not always right, but I ain’t ever wrong,” and he didn’t like “what if’s.”
     He enjoyed golfing, boating, driving his van around but mostly enjoyed work. He also enjoyed buying tools off of Ebay.  Everything he did was for his family.
     Survivors include his wife, Jackie; children, Ashley Hamre, Sarah Hamre and Jack Hamre, all of Thief River Falls; mother, Marilyn Hamre of McIntosh; sister, Lori (Nick) Rierson of Crystal; brothers, Lee (Kim) Hamre of Pillager, and Kent Hamre of St. Cloud; mother-in-law, Dorothy Swedenburg; sisters-in-law, Bernie (Les) Swanson, Denise Lane and Patty (David) Carlson, all of Thief River Falls; goddaughter, Bell Hamre; godson, Justin Barth; and many other relatives and friends.
     He is preceded in death by his father, Leighton; grandparents, Melvin and Gladys Hamre and Andrew and Minnie Salvhus; father-in-law, Donald Swedenburg; uncles, Jerry Hamre, Raymond Moe and Sheldon Nomeland; aunt, Joanne Brua; and brother-in-law, Robert John Swedenburg.
    Funeral arrangements are with Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls. Family condolences may be sent to www.johnsonfuneralservice.com.
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