Charley Hamersma, 91, of rural Austin, died of natural causes on Wednesday morning, Aug., 10, 2011, at his home with his wife and family at his side.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday Aug., 16, at the Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church with the Rev. Gene Leiter officiating. Charley will be taken to his resting place at the Red Oak Grove Cemetery by his two-horse clydesdale hitch and wagon. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Clasen- Jordan Mortuary and at the church for one hour before the service on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials.

Charley was born Oct. 22, 1919, to Hannah (De Poppe) and Charley Hamersma Sr. in Beaver Township of Fillmore County, Minn. He attended grade school at Carmona, Minn., and graduated from the Forestville Country School. He served in the Marine Corps during World War II on the island of Hiroshima.

Charley lived in the Forestville area where he was a farmer and hauled livestock to South St. Paul – Central Livestock. He had his own shipper association. Charley owned and operated a truck stop and restaurant in Mountain View, Mo., in 1947. In 1949, he held his first Wild West Rodeo in Forestville, with 9,000 people in attendance.

In 1975, Charley was married to Suzanne Russell at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin; and in 1978, they moved to rural Austin. He had a great passion for horses, country music, his wife and extended family. He was a member of the Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church and the Clydesdale Members of America. Charley was well known for his wit, knowledge and storytelling. He will be missed but not forgotten.

Charley is survived by his wife Suzanne Russell Hamersma of Austin; son, Chad (Laura) Hamersma of Blooming Prairie, Minn.,; daughter, Corrin Hamersma (Vic Korsmoe) of Austin; stepchildren, Roger (Sonja) Hofner of Dexter, Minn., Larry (Meridee) Hofner of Austin, Carol Vigum of Ostrander, Minn., Judy (Tom) Hanson of Lake Crystal, Minn.; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sister, Johannah Vreeman of Cherry Grove, Minn.,; brother-in-law, Steve (Sue) Russell of Stillwater, Minn.; sisters-in-law, Nancy Barnett of Tempe, Ariz., Jeanette (Nick) Lindgren of Grand Maris, Minn., Patte (Mark) Kraske of Stillwater, Minn.; nieces and nephews.

Charley was preceded in death by his parents; son, Gary; grandson, Ronald Arnold; brothers, Harold Vande Zande, Joe Vreeman, Bill Hamersma and sister, Edith Musel.