John N. Hamberg

John N. "Mr. Clean" Hamberg, 76 of Slaughters (formerly of Owensboro) passed away Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Owensboro Medical Health System. Born in San Francisco on July 27, 1932, he was the son of the late John and Effie Wood Hamberg; was retired from ALCAN Aluminum; was a life long brick mason; and was a veteran of the Army and Army National Guard. Until 1994, Mr. Hamberg was very active in auto racing (sprint and stock cars) as a hobby, racing with Michael and Darrell Waltrip and once drove "the Orange Blossom Special" a car owned by Loretta Lynn and Roy Clark. His number one priority was always caring for his family and an enduring legacy was his "Pay it forward" attitude toward helping others.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Ruth Carolyne McGee; daughters, Carol Hamberg of Nashville and Peggy (Lyndall) Gaddis of Owensboro; sons, James (Teresa) Hamberg of Sacramento and Eric Hamberg of Slaughters; a foster son, David Condra of Owensboro; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three foster grandchildren; and three foster great-grandchildren; brother, Stokey "Ellis" (Shirley) Hamberg of Houston, TX and Fred (Carol) Hamberg of Atlanta; and sisters, Jeanette (Don) Jonsrud of Kalispell, MT and Nancy (Darrell) Smith of Tampa, FL; and 11 nieces and nephews.

Services are 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at Glenn Funeral Home followed by burial in Owensboro Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by VFW Post 696. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and after 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Hospice.