Photo courtesy of Hamilton Funeral Home Doug Hamilton, a longtime Marshall community member and funeral director, died Monday at the age of 77.

MARSHALL — Doug Hamilton didn’t like to be the center of attention. That was part of his job as a funeral director, David Sprik said. In that capacity, Hamilton served families in southwest Minnesota for more than 30 years.

“He liked to quietly serve,” said Sprik.

But Hamilton was also active in the community, whether it was through his faith or through local organizations.

“He was a compassionate, caring soul,” Sprik said.

Hamilton died Monday at his home in Marshall. He was 77.

Hamilton was born in Willmar on June 21, 1948 and grew up in the area around Grove City and Atwater. He served in the Army during the Vietnam War. After returning to Minnesota, Hamilton worked as a lineman before pursuing a degree in mortuary science, Sprik said.

“He kind of worked his way south,” Sprik said. Hamilton worked with Dick Birk in the Canby area, and in 1986, the two men established the Hamilton-Birk Funeral Home in Marshall. Hamilton bought the business in 2003, and the name changed to Hamilton Funeral Home.

David and Elly Sprik said they got to know Hamilton as a mentor, as they joined Hamilton Funeral Home, and later took over the business when Hamilton retired in 2014. David Sprik said he first met Doug in 2004 when he was part of a group of Southwest Minnesota State University students who toured the funeral home. Sprik said he would later go on to do a job shadow with Hamilton, and became interested in becoming a funeral director through the experience.

“(Doug) was an open, honest mentor at that point,” Elly Sprik said. “He wanted people to be comfortable at the funeral home,” she said.

David Sprik said Hamilton was open about both the good and the challenging parts of his work. He would also be ready to help support grieving families, balancing compassion with humor.

“He understood the seriousness, but he did bring an element of joy even in people’s sorrow,” Elly Sprik added. “He lived to serve, and to walk with people through something most people don’t want to talk about.”

“He would have an incredible memory for people’s names,” David Sprik said. Hamilton also made a point of remembering specific things about the people he met, the Spriks said.

Even outside of his work, Hamilton was active in the Marshall area community. He was part of the Marshall Area Chamber Ambassadors, visiting local businesses. He was also part of organizations like the Lions, Rotary, and the Prairie Home Hospice board. He was also an active part of his church, the Spriks said.

“I think his faith played a big role,” Elly Sprik said.

Funeral services for Hamilton will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Living Word Church in Marshall. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday at Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall. A prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour before services at the church.