Husband of Phoebe (Dempster) deceased 2002; father of Lynn Hamann Roberts of Fort Collins, CO, W. Richard Hamann of Ashland (Shari) and Charles “Chip” Hamann of Ottawa, Canada (Alain). Grandfather to Jordan (Hamann) Heiser of Lincoln (Patrick), and Jeremy Hamann of Longmont, CO (Jane). Great grand-father to Jovie and Jones Heiser of Lincoln and Penelope Hamann of Longmont, CO.
A Nebraska native, Don truly loved his home state. He studied business and graduated from the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He was later enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
In 1957, Don joined his father, Bill Hamann, as they assumed ownership of Lincoln’s first fine jewelry store, Sartor’s. From then on, it became Sartor Hamann Jewelers. Don was born with a natural gift for story-telling, a true interest in people and an appreciation for beautiful things. As a young man, he started many businesses and he often tells the story of the “motorized bicycle” that he marketed in Crete, where he grew up and graduated from high school.
Don was well known in the jewelry industry as President of the Jewelers of America and was a leader in other regional and national trade organizations. As a local business leader, he was president of the Downtown Lincoln Association and active in the Chamber of Commerce. He was a longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Don, along with his late wife Phoebe, was an ardent supporter of innumerable charities and foundations. They together were particularly passionate about supporting music and the arts, including theatre, music education in the Lincoln Public Schools, Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra and the Lied Center.
An avid gardener and rose lover, Don made a generous donation to the City of Lincoln in 2006 to assist in the complete renovation of the Municipal Rose Garden at 27th and “C” Streets. In honor of his lead gift, the garden was renamed The Hamann Rose Garden.
A Celebration of Don’s Life will be held from 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. with the family present on Thursday, June 1st at Roper and Sons South Chapel Reception Room (3950 Hohennsee Drive, 68516)
Memorials can be made to The Hamann Rose Garden:
https://www.lincolnparks.org/what_we_do/tributes-memorials/hamann-rose-garden.html