Walter Quamen

Walter "Pete" Quamen, 90 of Rushford, died peacefully Friday, April 17, 2015 at his home.Pete was born July 24, 1924 in Winona, the second of seven children born to Pete and Martha (Bratberg) Quamen. He was baptized and confirmed at Rushford Lutheran Church. Pete graduated from Rushford High School in 1943 and immediately joined the United States Navy. Machinist Mate Walter Quamen was a gunner aboard the aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Manila Bay and after the Manila Bay was kamikazed by Japanese suicide bombers, he was transferred to the U.S.S. Prince William. He was honorably discharged in May 1946. In 1951, he began working for the US Government on overseas construction in New Foundland, Iceland and two tours in Greenland as Job Superintendent of Plumbing and Heating. In 1957, Pete married Jane Peterson in Las Vegas, Nevada. They had one daughter Cindy. The family lived in California for 30 years where he continued being job superintendent for E.O. Stice Plumbing Co. doing solely construction plumbing. After 35 years in the industry, he retired at age 59 and the family moved back to Minnesota in 1984. He loved to travel and he and Jane visited most of the states, Canada, Mexico, South America and most of the Caribbean Islands. He mostly enjoyed the three Caribbean cruises they took. Pete's passion was golf, first as a caddy and then as a dedicated golfer. After retirement he could be found on the golf course at 7 a.m., every morning playing 9 holes. He loved the morning walk and never used a cart. He was a thirty-second degree Mason with the Palestine Masonic Lodge, Los Angeles, CA. Pete was a 65 year member of the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Union, lifelong member of the VFW Post 94 and Rushford Lutheran Church.Pete is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane; daughter, Cindy; step-son, Rick (Denise) Iverson; three grandsons, Justin, Austin and Brandon Eklund; two step-grandsons, Ricky & Dan (Tamara) Iverson; step-great-granddaughter, Kira Iverson; sister, Bernice Romie and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Larry and Lloyd; three sisters, Phylis, Janet and Shelly and a son-in-law, Scott Eklund.Funeral Service will be 11 a.m., Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Rushford Lutheran Church with the Reverend Roger Michaelson officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be 5 - 8 p.m., Friday at Hoff Funeral & Cremation Service in Rushford and one hour prior to the service at church. The family prefers memorials.Please share a memory of Pete, sign his online guestbook and view his video tribute when it becomes available at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/588721