Gustaf Hammar

Gustaf Leonard Hammar
POCATELLO - Gustaf Leonard Hammar, 95, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2011, following a brief illness.
He was born March 8, 1915, on the family farm outside of Center, North Dakota, to Gustaf Bernhard Hammar and Anna Tenney Aslakson. He attended a one-room school house until the family moved to Minot, North Dakota. Following his high school graduation he was able to go on and work his way through school at the University of North Dakota and graduated as a civil engineer. 
Leonard married Muriel Hebbert December 27, 1942. Together, for 62 years, they enjoyed spending time with the family, hiking and traveling.
He helped design the dams along the Missouri River for flood control, power production, and recreation. As a member of the Corps of Engineers, he then helped to build the Fort Randall Dam at Pickstown, South Dakota, and the Oahe Dam at Pierre, South Dakota. Both of these dams were on the Missouri River.
Civil engineering took Dad and our family to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he was an engineer building the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) inside of Cheyenne Mountain. He was then asked to move to northern Idaho, where he helped build the Dworshak Dam and to help with the relocation of the roads and railroads to make possible the seaport at Lewiston, Idaho. 
Leonard and Muriel then moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho, to help engineer the Ririe Dam to prevent the yearly flooding of Ammon and to provide a recreational lake. Their last move brought them to Pocatello to be near family.
Leonard was currently a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Pocatello, Idaho, and truly loved the fellowship of the Saturday Work Party and the Out to Lunch Bunch. He had also recently been a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Idaho Falls. In earlier years, Leonard had been active in service to the churches he belonged to, including financial official, Mariners member, family church camp participant, always seeing what need to be done and doing it, and the best hunting buddy of the Rev. E. H. Hirrschoff of the First Congregational Church of Pierre, South Dakota.
He was a rock-hound and made beautiful rock jewelry for us. We went on exciting rock hunts as a family. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren have all enjoyed playing with his polished rocks. Dad and Mom have instilled in the entire family the love and wonder of the out-of–doors. They had a passion for hiking everywhere, and Dad would teach us about the flowers, trees, and mountains. They took us with them whenever possible. Playing family games was another passion of Dad's. Card games for the big kids, and all sorts of younger games for the grandchildren and great-grandchildren as they grew.
He was the great supporter. He supported Muriel when she wanted to go back to substitute teach after we were in school. He took time after a full day of work to play catch with son, Michael. He supported Michael from Cub Scouts through his Eagle Scout rank and off to a Boy Scout National Jamboree. Leonard also served as a Boy Scout commissioner. 
He supported Pat through Girl Scouts, helped with a big camping trip to the Black Hills and made it possible for her to go on a National Girl Scout Jamboree. He encouraged and supported his daughter, Sue, to try out and join the All-Student Band USA and travel throughout Europe. 
Leonard has always been a proponent of lifelong education. Not just formal education, but also the world around us, the arts, and literature. He was an avid reader. He was pleased that all three children graduated from college and to see all of his grandchildren also graduate from college.
Leonard is survived by his son, Michael L. (Rosa) Hammar, Ephrata, Washington; and his daughters, Patricia M. Wright, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Sue Ellen (Bob) Curtis Pocatello, Idaho; his grandchildren, Rebecca Wright (Jonathan Gaw), Minneapolis, Minnesota, Pamela Wright (Louis LaPierre), Longview, Washington, Timothy Wright (Candace Christen), Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Stacey Hammar (Jesse Attao), Boise, Idaho, Ashton Hammar, Seattle Washington, Scott Curtis, New York City, New York, Christopher Curtis, Boise, Idaho, Rob Curtis (Tracy) Woodland Hills, Utah; and great-grandchildren, Aden Attao, Clara Gaw, Quentin Wright and Madeleine LaPierre. Leonard was preceded in death by his wife, Muriel, his brother, Joey Hammar, and his three sisters, Vendela Hammar, Ruby Brown, and Esther Weimer.
A memorial service to celebrate Leonard Hammar's life will be held Saturday March 5. 2011, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 202 South Seventh, Pocatello, Idaho. 
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.Colonial-FuneralHome.com.