Armand R. Hamel

Armand R. Hamel, 93, passed away on Nov. 11, 2018, at his home in Troy of natural causes. He was born on July 14, 1925 to Aurore and Adelard Hamel in Warren, Ontario, Canada. When he was six months old, his parents came to Libby, where his father was employed by the J. Neils Lumber Company.

Armand’s family followed the logging operations to Columbia Falls, Kalispell, the upper Yaak and finally to a permanent home in Troy. Armand finished school in Troy.

Armand enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He had a short stay in the states and then was sent overseas to the Palau Islands in the Pacific. He stayed there for the duration of the war. He returned to Troy after his honorable discharge and went to work for the J. Neils Lumber Company. He worked for them for four years and then left to work on the coast for Boeing Company and Pacific Car and Foundry.

When St. Regis Lumber Company started a new mill in Troy, he went back to work for them. The Troy mill later closed and he transferred to their mill in Libby, and later worked for Champion International until he retired.

Armand kept busy raising a garden, gathering firewood, fishing and hunting, and picking huckleberries. He would hike and fish the upper mountain lakes such as Wanless Lake and Upper Cedar Lake.

Survivors include a nephew Lance Hamel; a niece Draya Hamel; a brother Ronald Hamel; and a sister-in-law Rita Hamel.

Services will be at 1 p.m., Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 at Milnor Lake Cemetery in Troy. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.