Steven Pete Hamel
Aug. 20, 1958 – Dec. 8, 2021
ARAPAHOE, NEB. Steven Pete Hamel, age 63, of Arapahoe, passed away on Wednesday Dec. 8, 2021, at the Cambridge Hospital. He was born on Aug. 20, 1958, to Hollis and Darlene (Elston)Hamel at Cambridge, Neb.
Pete grew up on the family farm in the rural Cambridge area and attended Cambridge Public Schools where he graduated with the Class of 1977. After graduating, Pete attended Tech School in Hastings, NEB., and graduated with a degree in welding.
While growing up, Pete, his brothers and sister rode, trained and showed horses throughout Southwest and central Nebraska in 4-H, open and registered shows where he won many trophies and ribbons. The trip to the Nebraska State Fair was always a goal, with the 4-H horses to compete in Lincoln and later Grand Island.
Pete and his brother, Kurt, always teamed up on whatever project they were working on that included a hotrod mini-bike. Later, Pete and Kurt fed feeder hogs that their dad would buy at the sale barn, that they sold to earn their money, along with riding and training horses for numerous people in the area.
After returning from his tech school welding education, Pete began working construction in the Cambridge, Holbrook and Arapahoe areas. When he wasnt doing construction, in the evenings and off days, he and his brother, Kurt, began their custom haying service. On April 20, 1993, he married his bride, Trudee Schroeder and adopted her son, Tyler. On Oct. 19, 1995, their son, Aaron Spanky, was born and joined the family.
Pete really enjoyed swathing and baling hay which he continued throughout his life, passing his love of the hay patch on to his sons. In addition to the hay business, he continued his construction business. Pete had a soft heart and loved animals and livestock, so he then added a cow-calf operation to his already busy life with his son, Spanky. His hay business enabled him to serve many dairy farms and livestock producers throughout the entire Midwest United States. In the process, many lasting friendships were formed that Pete treasured.
He always put himself and the things he needed behind those of everyone else he was doing work for. Pete was always building, remodeling, repairing, fixing, pouring concrete or whatever the job at hand required for someone, and many cases, more than one customer.
Pete was preceeded in death by his grandparents and by his mother and his father and mother-in-law, JoAnne Schroeder.
He is survived by his wife, Trudee; his sons, Spanky and wife, KeAnn of Holbrook and Tyler and wife, Katey of Arapahoe; grandsons, Colton, Layton, Jace and Jabe; brothers, Mark and wife, Linda of Arapahoe and Kurt and wife, Cindy of Holbrook; sister, Beth; nephews, Jesse, Justin and Marty; father-in-law, Neale Schroeder of Arapahoe; brothers-in-law, Mason and Jennifer Schroeder of Arapahoe and Kerry Thompson; sisters-in-law, Toni and Brian Kracl of Schuyler, Terry and Cindy Bowers of Holbrook, Sheila Meader of Fremont and Micki Thompson of Fremont; plus numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
There will be no viewing or visitation as cremation was chosen. Memorial service will be Monday, Dec. 13, 2021, at 11 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church, of Arapahoe with Pastors Joel Rathbun and Becky Saddler. Inurnment will be at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to be left in his name. Wenburg Funeral Home of Arapahoe is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences and personal reflections may be left at wenburgfuneralhome.