David Thomas Hamilton

9/25/1943-1/18/2025

David Thomas Hamilton passed away peacefully in Dallas Texas on January 18, 2025. David was born on September 25, 1943, to Cecil and Barbara Hamilton in Sauk City, Wisconsin. David grew up in Sauk City and graduated from Sauk City High School. He enjoyed playing Little League baseball and his first ambition was to be a farmer. After graduation, he switched careers and became a concrete finisher like his father. He also worked at the Barber Cheese Factory in Blue Mounds, WI, where he met his first wife June Hamilton and had their first child Jody. After some time also spent in Lacrosse Wisconsin, David knew the mountains of the west were calling his name and moved his family to Rapid City, South Dakota, and had 2 more children Schuyler and Holly. He started and owned Hamilton concrete, servicing the Rapid City and Black Hills area. When work became slow and recently divorced, he then decided to leave Rapid City and move to Denver, Colorado.

Upon his arrival in Denver, along with Supreme Concrete, he started working in Sales and Marketing with window companies, such as Marvin and Anderson windows. During that time, he met his second wife, Carolyn (Sue) Hamilton. After marriage they honeymooned in Durango, Colorado, which they fell in love with and moved to. In 1992 they started a business named Juicy Jerky, a gourmet jerky made from elk, buffalo, venison, turkey, and beef. They sold Juicy Jerky in the neighboring cities and states including Taos, New Mexico, and along with Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona in the winter months. In 2012, David went through his second divorce and lived in Bayfield, Colorado. He continued to sell and grow the Juicy Jerky business. In the fall of 2013, David was honored with an article and photo of his Jerky and Pinon stand in the Taos News, a local newspaper and was also featured in the Santa Fe, New Mexico calendar for the month of October 2013. This year marks the 33rd anniversary of Juicy Jerky which his daughter Holly now operates.

David was an avid hunter and loved to elk and deer hunt with his son Schuyler and other family members. He was a mountain man and thrived in the outdoor environment and that was his happy place. He is also the author of a book called The End? Or a New Beginning, about how he survived three days and two nights in the Routt National Forest in November 1982. David also had many friends around the world and was no stranger introducing himself to anyone. He was well liked by many and cherished those that were in his life.

David is survived by his children Schuyler Hamilton and Holly Hamilton. His grandchildren Lindsay Mader, Maliyah Hamilton, Gaige Hamilton, and Charlotte Hankins and two great grandchildren Carter and Myles. His sister Charlotte (Bart) Olson, sister-in-law Gloria Hamilton, nieces Tammy (Mike) O’Grady and Kandace (Dub) Carter, nephews Kirk Olson and Allan Jr. Hamilton along with several great nieces and nephews. Honorable mention friends Joe and Judy Sabah for over 30 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents Cecil and Barbara Hamilton, brother Allan Hamilton, daughter Jody Hamilton, nephew Clayton Olson.

David will be remembered by shining a light wherever he went and spreading happiness and joy to everyone he encountered. His love for the outdoors and nature that he did not take for granted as he loved the earth, the trees, the lakes, and the sky.

Celebration of Life Ceremony will be scheduled at a later date.