James Allan Hamrin
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James Allan Hamrin, 78, of Massillon, Ohio, formerly of Gold Canyon, Arizona and Elgin, Illinois, passed away on December 2, 2021.
James was born on August 18, 1943 in Watsonville, California and raised in Joliet, Illinois. After graduating Joliet Township High School in 1961, he attended Joliet Junior College and met his future wife Sharon (Johnson). He graduated from Southern Illinois University (and later earned his master's degree and Indiana State University) and married Sharon in 1965. He began his career as a teacher at Fremd High School that same year. In 1966 they moved to Elgin, Illinois, where Jim became a physical education and driver's education teacher at Elgin High School and they had two children Scott and Jodi. From 1966 to 2003 at EHS, Jim coached numerous sports during his 37 years: swimming, baseball, bowling, golf, softball and track. He also broadcasted basketball games on the radio and announced football games at the stadium. Away from EHS, Jim was a swimming coach at Lake Region YMCA and Elgin YMCA and worked as a pool manager at Elgin Country Club and Crystal Lake Country Club. He was involved and served on the board of directors at YMCA Camp MacLean in Burlington, Wisconsin, where he had been a camper and counselor in his youth.
After his retirement in 2003, Jim and Sharon moved to Gold Canyon, Arizona. They enjoyed traveling, exploring Arizona, visiting friends and family, cruising and going to restaurants and casinos. He volunteered at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa for many years in cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation. He loved to attend his grandchildren's sporting events, recitals and concerts. He will be remembered as a big hearted giving person who loved to tell great stories.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife of 55 years, Sharon. He is survived his son Scott (Susan), their children Kyleigh, Kaitlyn and Shane; his daughter Jodi (David) Hall and their children Lauren and Stephen. He is also survived by his siblings Linda (Ralph) Hutchinson, Wendy (Tom) Hartley, Don (Diane) Lutz and goddaughter Tracy (Eric) Nash.
A special thank you to his doctors and Crossroads Hospice in Ohio for their kindness and compassion.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 11th at 11:00 am at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park, 6747 E. Broadway Road, Mesa, Arizona 85206.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Jim's memory to Banner Baywood Heart Hospital Pulmonary Rehabilitation. www.BannerHealthFoundation.org/give.
For additional information or to leave condolences go to www.heitger.com
Heitger Funeral Home - Jackson Chapel 330-830-0148