Howard J. Hammer (91) of Altamont

Howard J. Hammer, 91, of Altamont, died at 9:05 a.m. Friday, April 7, 2023 at Lutheran Care Center, Altamont.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2023 at St. Paul ‘Blue Point’ Lutheran Church, rural Altamont with Rev. David Speers officiating. Burial will follow at Union Cemetery, Altamont with military rites by American Legion Post #120, Effingham. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 10th at the church and for one hour prior to service time on Tuesday. Memorials may be made to The Whoo Hoo Sisterhood or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Gieseking Funeral Home, Altamont is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.

Howard John Hammer was born on Saturday, December 19, 1931 in Altamont, IL to Arnold and Olive (Ziegler) Hammer. On June 2, 1957 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Louisville he married Carolyn Budde and this year they would have celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard was a member of St. Paul ‘Blue Point’ Lutheran Church and the American Legion Post #120, Effingham. For many years he worked for the Altamont Wholesale Company, had served as a road commissioner for Summit Township and was a life-long farmer.

He is survived by: his wife; sons, Darwin Hammer of Altamont, Chris (Cheri) Hammer of Altamont, Mike (Brenda) Hammer of Altamont, Kelly Hammer of Effingham, Kirk (Sondra) Hammer of Altamont; sisters, Irma Mellendorf of Dieterich and Verda Mellendorf of Louisville; 8 grandchildren, Gretchen (Cody) Hammer, Chrisha (Derrick) Alwardt, Jacob and Jared Hammer, Kaile (Ethan) Wolff, Devin (Clare) Hammer, Darcie (Brennan) Buening, Mackenzie (Dunavun) Goeckner; 7 great grandchildren Adison and Conner Alwardt, Paisley and Talon Ranes, Grayson and Kynlie Buening; and 1 great grandchild, Baby Wolff on the way next month.

Howard was preceded in death by: his parents, brothers, Arlon ‘Ace’ Hammer and Norman Hammer and a sister, Audrey Neu.

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