John Jacobs Hamula

John Jacobs Hamula passed away January 10, 2024 at the age of 62.  Born May 11, 1961, to Joyce E. and Joseph F. Hamula in Long Beach, California, John grew up the second of five children (all boys).  While all the Hamula boys challenged their parents, John probably was the most responsible for the gray hair of his parents.  

John lived a life of his own choosing, nurturing and pursuing creative interests unique to him.  In his early teenage years, after earning the Boy Scout rank of Eagle, John joined the Tribe of Tahquitz, an honor society of Scouts in Long Beach that, among other things, studied, recreated and publicly presented Native American regalia and dance.  He studied the crafts, developed the skills, and perfected the arts involved, and then danced with his regalia at pow wows, often as the only non-Native American.  In time, John became widely recognized and awarded for the authenticity and beauty of his artistry.  

After his family’s move to Utah in 1978, John attended Brigham Young University (BYU) and served an L.D.S. mission in the Florida Tampa Mission from 1980-82.  After his mission, John returned to BYU and then transferred to Utah State University where he nearly finished a bachelor’s degree in Biology, when another creative pursuit captured his interest and imagination that became his lifelong passion – fine jewelry making and selling.  

John learned jewelry making and selling while working to earn money for college.  Initially, he sold jewelry and succeeded in doing so with his affable, generous, and authentic nature.  Soon, his sales success led to him managing jewelry stores.  Eventually, John found working for and selling others’ jewelry to be limiting of his own creativity and keen desire to meet his customer’s interests. John therefore struck out on his own, opening The Diamond Company in Logan, Utah, through which he retailed and brokered diamonds, fine gem stones, and other jewelry throughout the West. 

Unfortunately, John acquired in his teenage years a substance abuse addiction that he was able to manage for certain periods of time, but he never completely overcame.  John served a five-year prison sentence in the early 2000s, during which he was regularly visited, supported and loved by his parents and brothers, regained his health, and planned for his next business venture. Upon his release from prison, John started Riders Custom Jewelry, which hand-crafted and sold custom jewelry targeted to the biker community.  In this business, John created one-of-a-kind jewelry, many of which involved skulls and faces infused with rubies, diamonds, emeralds and sapphires.  

His whole life, John loved nature and the outdoors.  In particular, he loved to fish and hunt in Utah and Idaho.  John also was very generous towards others, especially any he thought needed a helping hand.  John helped a younger brother purchase his first home, and had a standing invitation to his brothers for Sunday dinners with amazingly crafted and presented meals.  John once said: “I’m happy alone, but I’m happier when my greatest concern is for someone else.”

In recent years, John lived in rural Oregon where he had bought some land to cultivate agriculturally.  Tragically and unexpectedly, John took his own life.  John is preceded in death by his mother and father, and leaves behind four brothers, James, Jason, Justin, and Jeffrey, and their spouses and children.

A celebraiton of life will be on Friday, March 22 from 6-8 pm with drinks and Hors D'oeuvres. Funeral services will be on Saturday, March 23 from 11-12 pm.  Both services will be held at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use parking and entrance located on the north side of the building. Funeral Services will be livestreamed. A link to view the livestream will be available here before services begin.

In remembrance of John and his spirit of helping others, John’s family is working to create Riders Custom Foundation, with the intention to recreate and sell a limited number of John’s original jewelry from duplicates of his lost wax carvings. Proceeds from the Riders Custom Foundation will be donated to support those afflicted with addiction. Send inquiries to riderscustomfoundation@gmail.com if you would like to help or for more information. 

John has said  “It’s always been about the wind in your face, the freedom to accomplish what you desire. That spirit still lives …”  

See more of his jewelry ( https://www.facebook.com/riderscustomjewelry?mibextid=LQQJ4d )