DAVID E. HAMALAINEN

WEST ROCKPORT – David E. Hamalainen, 91, husband of Dorothy (Keller) Hamalainen, died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, at Anderson Inn in Camden. Born Sept. 8, 1914, in West Rockport, he was the son of Martin and Johanna (Luomajoki) Hamalainen. He grew up in West Rockport, attended schools in Rockport and married Dorothy Ellen Keller at the West Rockport Baptist Church Oct. 10, 1942. David and Dot lived on Keller family land on Mount Pleasant Street in West Rockport for many years, where they raised their family. During World War II, David worked at Bath Iron Works and the Portland Shipyards doing work on the Liberty ships. He worked at Seapro in Rockland for 30 years as a welder and a maintenance man. He later worked at Emil Rivers, Inc. in Rockland for his nephew, David Karl Hamalainen. Hamalainen was a member of the Rockland Congregational Church, a member of the former Mount Pleasant Grange, a member of St. Paul’s Lodge No. 82, where he was a past master, a 32nd degree Mason Scottish Rite Bodies, a member of Kora Temple Shrine and the Mid-Coast Shrine Club. David’s hobbies included hunting, fishing and spending time with his family. He was especially proud of his Finnish ancestry and enjoyed taking sauna with his Finnish friends. He will be remembered for his great sense of humor and his devotion to his family. Surviving is his wife of 63 years, Dorothy “Dot” Hamalainen of Camden; two sons, Donald H. Hamalainen and his wife, Carol, of Cousins Island; Robert W. Hamalainen and his wife, Jean, of West Rockport; five grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by four brothers, George, Martin, Simon and Daniel Hamalainen. A memorial service will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at the Rockland Congregational Church, 180 Limerock St., Rockland, with the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Mauro, officiating. A reception will be held at the church following the service. Spring interment will be held in the West Rockport Cemetery. The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Abiding Memorial Fund, care of Rockland Congregational Church, P.O. Box 554, Rockland, ME 04841. Arrangements are with the Laite Funeral Home, 9 Mountain St., Camden.