Louis F. HammanLouis F Hamman, 92, of Ft. Collins passed away on January 12, 2017. Lou was born on May 26, 1924 in San Acacio, CO to A.J. and Jessie (Batchelor) Hamman. He moved with his family to Ft. Collins in 1940 and attended Ft. Collins High School. While at FCHS he had a promising career in track. In 1942 he won the Lambkin Invitational Mile Run, was the leadoff man in the 2 mile CU Relays winning team and anchored the medley relay. Individually, he won the state mile run at the Colorado State track meet. He graduated on June 2, 1943 and was inducted into the US Army on June 8, 1943. While he had run a 4:30 mile and had aspirations to be an Olympian, WWII called. He arrived in France three days after D-Day and was promoted from PFC to Sargent within one week of his arrival. He was wounded in action November 18 and returned to action in three weeks and promoted to Staff Sargent (squad leader). He fought in many actions across France, Belgium and Germany including the Battle of the Bulge, winning two Bronze Stars, the Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation. Returning to Fort Collins and enrolling at Colorado A&M, he won 2nd place in the Rocky Mountain Conference track meet in 1946 but due to his injuries could never return to pre-war form. He graduated from Colorado A&M in 1949 and went into agricultural feed and chemical sales. Lou married Shirley Hastings in 1950. They had three daughters between 1952 and 1956, and divorced in 1961. Lou married Helen M. Knaus on June 5, 1965. She brought five boys of her own to the marriage and a large, blended family was created. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2015. Lou was a strong and dedicated father to the whole family and led by example. Living part time in Fort Collins and part time in Lyons, CO at a cabin purchased from his sister Rose Elnor; they enjoyed a long and happy retirement hosting children and grandchildren at the cabin for days or weeks at a time and always growing a magnificent garden. Family meant everything to him. He and Helen traveled extensively both in the US and abroad. His last trip, in September 2016, was to Washington D.C. on the Northern Colorado Honor Flight which he deemed "fabulous". He was preceded in death by his wife Helen, his son Christopher Knaus, his brother Jack and sister Marjorie Miller. He is survived by his sister Rose Elnor Hamman; seven children: Sharon Hamman (Terry), Stephen Knaus (Carol), Janet Gablehouse (Darrel), Timothy Knaus (Johnette), Deborah Scates (James), Gregory Knaus (Anne), and Theodore Knaus. He leaves behind eleven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. A private, family graveside service has been held. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Loveland Honor Flight in care of Allnutt or www.honorflightnorthern colorado.org. Family and friend may visit Louis' Memorial Tribute at www.allnutt.com and leave a message of condolence for the family.