Oren E. Ackerman

Saranac Lake - Oren E. Ackerman, 83, passed away Sunday, October 31, 2010 at AMC-Uihlein in Lake Placid. Mr. Ackerman was born in Syracuse on May 4, 1927, son of the late E. Ackerman and Ida Cook Ackerman. He served with the U. S. Air Force for four years in Colorado, Germany and Morocco. On September 7, 1950, he married Carol White at the Brasher Falls United Methodist Church. They celebrated their 60th anniversary last month. He worked on the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway, was employed at E.E. & C. C. Green Sawmill in Sanfordville and then was a machine operator at ALCOA in Massena, retiring in 1990. He was a member of the mall walkers in Massena, the American Legion in Massena, the Saranac Lake Adult Center where he also volunteered his time to help with the center's activities, and attended the West Stockholm and Saranac Lake United Methodist Church. Oren was a hardworking man who loved his family. With his wife, they would travel to enjoy their children and to participate with their grandchildren's events; concerts, plays, softball and baseball games, high school and college graduations, and weddings. As a family, they enjoyed the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. His grandchildren were entertained with his love of singing, especially Christmas carols such as Jingle Bells and his own version of Rudolph the Green-Nosed Reindeer. Oren was a friendly man who loved to talk and could always find something to discuss. He was an avid sports fan with special interest in the Yankees. Oren and Carol shared in a blessed union for 60 years, filled with love and devotion, and for the past 3 years that he was at Uihlein, his wife supported him every day. He is survived by his wife, Carol; three children, Cindy Hovland and her husband, Craig of Saranac Lake, David Ackerman and his wife, Sue of Montgomery, and Dianne Foreman and her husband, Bret of Maumelle, Arkansas; his grandchildren, Jennifer Stavenhagen and her husband, Rich of Bloomingdale, Megan Roberts and her husband, Brad of Bellevue, Nebraska, Greta Hovland and her husband Chris Spicer of Saranac Lake, Karl Ackerman of Montgomery and Stephanie Ackerman of Oswego; his great grandchildren, Madeline Stavenhagen and Nevin Oren Roberts; brothers in law, Joseph and Sharon White, Gerald White, Robert White and Phillip and Donna White; several nieces and nephews including Lucille Ackerman and Gene Ackerman of Massena. He was predeceased by several brothers and sisters, including Harold Ackerman of Massena and Warren Ackerman of Nova Scotia. Friends may call at the Hammill Funeral Home in Winthrop, Wednesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 11 am at the funeral home with burial to follow in Winthrop Cemetery in Winthrop. Those wishing to do so, please consider donations in his memory to Uihlein Mercy Center, 185 Old Military Road, Lake Placid, NY 12946 or the American Diabetes Association, Pine West Plaza Building 2, Suite 204,Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, New York 12205. Condolences and memories can be shared with his family online at hammillfh.com.