John L. “Hambone” Oberg

A native of Jamestown, he was born Mar. 8, 1974 and was a son of the late John A. and Lucille (nee Root) Oberg.

Member of Mensa International, John was a constant tinkerer and builder, master of sound and lighting, which led to the culmination of his career as technical director at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, a community he loved and that rallied and supported him throughout his devastating fight with that nasty C-word, cancer.

A member of IATSE Local 266, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, he worked to create the magic behind countless performances at Reg Lenna and the Chautauqua Amphitheater, and numerous stages throughout WNY and Pennsylvania.

John is, first and foremost, a musician. He began his life of music at a young age, first learning viola in the Suzuki program under Nina Karbacka. As was his nature, he excelled with the instrument and was invited to play with the Greater Buffalo Youth Orchestra at an unusually young age, continuing throughout high school (Jamestown High School class of ’92), when his musical interests shifted to guitar and he became the intensely precise, yet soulful and mesmerizing musician who has inspired and entertained our community for decades.

Hambone was a founding member of the band Two For Flinching, well-known throughout the region and headlining Jamestown’s annual Labor Day Festival at Bergman Park for many years, as well as being a key member of original metal band Desecrator.

John is survived by the love of his life, Michelle Lewis, her sons, Jacob and Kyle Green; sister unit, Heather (Brendan) Fagan of Jamestown and the brother, Eric Oberg of Panama; nephew, Ryan Oberg of Panama; and niece, Ash Fagan of Jamestown; bandmates and brothers Tony Piazza of Frewsburg, Darrin (Sarah) Payne of Seneca, and Chris Lee of Jamestown, bandmate and little sister Nanishka Salva of Jamestown.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant brother, Todd Oberg.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Lind Funeral Home, Jamestown. A not-to-miss Two for Flinching tribute to Hambone will be coming to Shawbucks, Jamestown on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 10 p.m.

He was your Swede for every need, your Viking for the liking, your Caucasian for any occasion, he was pale but never failed, pasty but always tasty, he was tighty… he was whitey… good God almighty, thank you for the funky music, Hambone! To share memories or a condolence please visit www.lindfuneralhome.com.