RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE​

the University of Nebraska Foundation and the Bethphage Foundation (now known as Mosaic). His honors include induction into the Omaha Business Hall of Fame, being named the 2011 King of Ak-Sar-Ben, the University of Nebraska College of Business Leadership Award, the 2014 Douglas E. Parrott Faith in Action Award and the 2024 Walter Scott Jr. Citizen of the Year Award. He has also been a member of United Way’s Tocqueville Society since 2000.

Deryl married Carrie Rosen in 1954, and they raised four children: Karl, Dan, Esther and Julie. Carrie died in 1985 following a battle with cancer. Deryl married Ramona in 1987; she passed away in 2021. The family continues his legacy through stewardship, generosity and service. In 2008, Dan, Esther and Julie established the Hamann Family Fund, supporting Omaha-area organizations in the arts, education, human services and mental health.

Dan Hamann is CEO of Spectrum Financial Services, the family’s Omaha investment office. After beginning his career in architecture, he joined the family banking business, helping build Great Western Bank and serving as holding company president and board chairman of the family’s Iowa and Missouri banks. He holds a B.A. from Iowa State University, an MBA from Wharton and the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy designation.
His board service has included Children’s Nebraska, Bellevue University, Interlochen Center for the Arts and The Nature Conservancy’s Nebraska Chapter. He is married to Joan Squires, president of Omaha Performing Arts, and has two children, John (Kaylee) and Kate (Jason Arkins). Together, Dan and Joan support numerous organizations in Omaha, especially in education, the arts and youth development. Dan has been a member of United Way’s Tocqueville Society since 2006.

Esther (Hamann) Brabec taught high school French and German for more than 20 years in Omaha and the Black Hills. She now teaches art to friends and French to her grandchildren. A University of Nebraska–Lincoln graduate, she belongs to Omaha Artists, Inc. and Alliance Française Omaha, where she helped develop Omaha’s Sister City relationship with the Omaha Beach area of Normandy. She has served as president of P.E.O. Chapter HP and participates in Bible Study Fellowship. Esther and her husband, Dan, are long-time United Way supporters; he served on United Way boards in the Black Hills and with UWM. A Tocqueville Society member since 2006, Esther participates in the Tocqueville Women’s Initiative, Habitat for Humanity Women Builds and the Boys & Girls Clubs Westside Advisory Committee. She also supports the Hope Center and Educate Uganda, and she and Dan participated in a Jimmy Carter Build in Haiti. Married for 42 years, they have three children, Claire (Graham Jacobs), Jeff (Kaila) and Megan (Chase Madigan), and 12 grandchildren.

Julie (Hamann) Elliott taught piano privately in Omaha for more than 20 years, tailoring instruction to each child’s learning style. She earned a B.A. in Music Education from Augustana College and a master’s in Piano Performance from the University of Kansas. A former member of the Omaha Music Teachers Association and Private Music Instructors, she has performed in church choirs and local Irish bands. Her philanthropy supports Food
Bank for the Heartland, Mosaic, the Hope Center, NorthStar, Boys & Girls Clubs, Omaha Performing Arts and she has sponsored children through ChildFund for more than 45 years. Julie and her husband, Ken, have five adult children and six grandchildren.

Karl Hamann is an author, musician, jewelry designer and artist in Red Wing, Minnesota. He earned a B.A. from Burlington College in Vermont. Like his siblings, he studied piano as a child and later studied lute with Kenneth Bé. An avid reader, nature lover and moviegoer, Karl enjoys daily walks with his beloved dogs.