Racine- William H. Tamm, age 94, of Racine, died on Tuesday, December 14, 2010.
Born on a dairy farm in Franksville, Wisconsin on September17, 1916 to the late William H. and Ida Tamm. On February 10, 1945 he was united in marriage to Raymel Gaddie, who preceded him in death on January 3, 1998.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1938 with a degree in Agriculture and, in 1939, with a degree in Civil Engineering. He attended Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey on a fellowship and graduated in 1941 with a Masters Degree in Agricultural Engineering. He worked for the Corps of Engineers in Norfolk, Virginia from 1941 until his retirement in 1976 except for about 2 years with the Tullahoma Tennessee District.
He was past President and member of Tidewater Chapter of the Virginia Society of Professional Engineers, the Engineers Club of Hampton Roads and the Hampton Roads Post of the Society of American Military Engineers. He was also a member of the National and Virginia Societies of Professional Engineers and the James River Basin Association.
He was past chairman of the Sacred Heart Church Parish Council and the Parish Finance Council. He was Past President of the Ryan Club of Norfolk and the DePaul Hospital Lay Advisory Board. He was on the St. Mary’s Infant Home Board of Trustees and was active in Catholic Family and Children’s Service Board of Directors. He took a leading role in the addition to and rehabilitation of Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk, Virginia. He was active on the United Way of South Hampton Roads Capital Acquisition and Repairs Committee and delivered mobile meals from his retirement in 1976 until he left Norfolk in 1998. After arriving in Kenosha he was a member of Saint Mark’s Parish Council and was very active at the parish. He was a member of the Serra Club, promoting vocations to the priesthood.
He received numerous commendations and superior performance awards, was nominated Tidewater Civil Servant of the Year, Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Award for Engineer of the Year in 1975. He received the Father Robert B. Kealy Council 3548 Knights of Columbus Civic Award in 1989.
Surviving are his sisters, Sylvia Petersen (Racine, WI), Dorothy Bakke (Conover, WI), brother, George Tamm, and sister-in-law, Mary Ellen (Indianapolis, IN), numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends including special friend, Janice Kafer. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Florence Ruetz, Norma Minikel and Gerry Bakke.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 7117 – 14th Ave. in Kenosha, at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 18th, with Reverend Stephen Forrest officiating. Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Norfolk, Virginia. Relatives and friends may be with the family at the funeral home on Friday, December 17, from 4p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and from 10-11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Mark’s Church. Memorials to St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Kenosha or St. Mary’s Infant Home (Capital Campaign) in Norfolk, Virginia are suggested.
Ellen Brenton says
Harold led a wonderful life and it was a pleasure to know him. I remember taveling to Florida with him, Florence and Nikki for Brian and Amanda’s wedding. He was a charming, gentle, kind and intelligent man. May he rest in peace. Ellen B.
Rev. William L. Pitt says
Please know that I will remember Bill at my Christmas Masses. He was such a wonderful inspiration together with Raymel. I am from Sacred Heart Parish where Bill served in so many generous ways. He was very helpful to me when I moved Norfolk Catholic High School to Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School in Va. Beach. Bill and Raymel took care of my reception at Sacred Heart after my first mass there – 50 years ago!]ossible I would like to attend the interment at St. Mary's cemetery. I hope the arrangements will appear in our paper. Peace, Fr. Pitt