Robert Hamlen, 85

Visitation for Robert F. Hamlen, 85, who died Saturday, January 21, 2012, will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, January 28, 2012, at the , 201 N. Northwest Highway, Palatine.  Funeral services will be private.

Born October 6, 1926, in New London Connecticut, the son of Frank H. and Elva (nee Small) Hamlen, he married Gwendolyn G. Staveley on July 10, 1949, in Littleton, Mass. Preceding him in death were his wife and his parents.  Surviving are his children, Roberta (Randall) Cinnamon of Toulon, Ill., Marcille of Austin, Texas, Geraldine of Gwinn, Mich., Mark (Patricia) of Palatine, and Kurt of Metairie, La.; six grandchildren; sister, Nancy (Dan) Morgan of Fort Wayne, Ind.; sister-in-law, Marcille MacLauchlan of Baton Rouge, La.; three nieces and three nephews.

A World War II US Army veteran, he graduated from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, in 1950 and then worked for Aetna Life & Casualty Insurance Co., throughout the Midwest, retiring in 1985. Then, after consulting for the Near North Insurance Agency he retired completely in 1990.

Once their children were grown, Bob and his wife were frequent travelers throughout the United States, South America, and Europe.

After Gwen’s passing, Bob continued traveling for pleasure and added Africa to his list of visited continents. He was always an avid reader and a frequent patron of several area libraries. He was a member and served on the board of directors of the Friends of the Palatine Library charitable organization. In retirement Bob developed an interest in food that predated the current foodie craze.  In his later years he became an aficionado of the culinary opportunities found at the Trader Joe’s, Eurofresh, Mariano’s and Caputo’s grocery stores. Bob avidly attended thrice weekly sessions at the Northwest Community Cardiac Rehab Center and enjoyed the company of his fellow survivors of cardiac incidents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to the Friends of the Palatine Library organization at the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. Court, Palatine, IL 60067.

For information, call the Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home, Palatine, at 847-358-7411, or visit www.ahlgrimffs.com.