Obituary of James Frederick Hamilton, IV
It is with great sorrow that the family of James Frederick Hamilton, IV announces his passing after an extended illness. James was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, who passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on October 19, 2018. He was born April 9, 1943, in Des Moines, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents James F. Hamilton, III and Marjorie Sinnard Hamilton and his sister Elizabeth Ann Hamilton, who died at birth.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carolyn Niles Hamilton and children: Elizabeth Hamilton Rogiers, Kathleen Hamilton Sones, Barbara Hamilton Bauswell (Michael), Angela Filali (Nassar), Elizabeth Hamilton Guarino (Peter), Mary Hamilton Horan (Mark), James F. Hamilton V (Holly), Shane Hamilton (Michelle), Justin Hamilton, and Alexandra Hamilton Angus (Scott). He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Charles M Niles III, sister-in-law Marilyn Niles Levine (Max and family), and Cousin Lawrence Jahns (Janet).
James is also survived by his 18 grandchildren: Brittany Sones Forslund (Brent), Taylor Sones, Hallie Sones, Isabelle Sones, Connor McLeaney, Quinn McLeaney, Cameron Guarino, Quaid Guarino, Grace Horan, Jackson Horan, Zachary Filali, Adam Filali, Caden Hamilton, Norah Hamilton, Carter Hamilton, Hudson Hamilton, Scott Angus III, and Andie Angus.
He is remembered with love by his life-long friend Steve Durbin. He is also remembered with love by Cary Sones, Mike McLeaney, Craig Murray and by his extended family and friends.
He lived as a child in Des Moines, Iowa. He moved with his parents to Cedar, Minnesota. He is a graduate of St. Francis High School, where he played four years of varsity baseball, basketball and football. In his senior year, he started Hamilton Shooting Preserve, an over 100-acre guided bird-hunting preserve. As a young man, he wrote a screenplay and moved to Hollywood, California to film his movie “Chance”. He moved to Bettendorf, Iowa where he founded James F. Hamilton Productions, a successful, international television production company. He was an award-winning writer and director with over one thousand television commercials and a variety of documentaries and motion pictures to his credit. In Iowa and Illinois, James was a pioneer in the video rental business and owned The Movie Stores, a chain of video rental stores. He later moved to the Minneapolis area, where he authored “Presidential Prey”. He played a prominent role in his wife’s company, Black Mountain Traders.
James was a devoted husband to his beloved wife and best friend, Carolyn, of 43 years. Theirs was a storybook romance that lasted a lifetime. He was a devoted father of 10 and grandfather of 18, who doted on every aspect of their lives. He was an avid movie collector and Minnesota sports fan.
We want to thank the ICU doctors and nurses of Fairview Southdale and Fairview Ridges Burnsville for their excellent, loving care. We would also like to thank Suzanne Laverdiere, life-long friend, for over ten years of superior caregiving, as well as Christian "CJ" LaCourse for rehab care following his stroke. We would also like to thank Dr. Bryce Pierson and nurse Chelsea Meyer for their wise and loving care over 15 years. Our family would like to also extend a special thank you to Dr. Rick Guarino.
Visitation will be November 8, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. followed immediately by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Church of the Risen Savior (1501 E. County Road 42, Burnsville, MN 55306).
