John Oliver Hammer

Funeral services will begin at 10:30 A.M. Friday, May 19, 2006 at Zion Lutheran Church in Garretson, South Dakota. Burial will be in Norway Cemetery, rural Garretson. Visitation will be Thursday, May 18, 2006 beginning at 4:00 P.M. with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson.

John Oliver Hammer was born to Bennie and Helga (Heggem) Hammer on July 10, 1928 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He passed away peacefully on May 15, 2006 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
John married Betty Horeis on May 7, 1950. The couple farmed near Garretson, South Dakota until retiring in 1994. They liked old time music and traveling, making seven trips to Europe.
John’s family was his greatest treasure. He was an accomplished concertina and accordion player. In recent years he surprised everyone with his artistic side, which included many crafts and a manuscript entitled “Memories”. John was an active member of First Lutheran Church in Sherman, South Dakota, serving on many committees. He was on the Board of Directors at First National Bank and the elevator.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Betty, Garretson, South Dakota; son, Neil Hammer and his wife Charlene, Alexandria, Minnesota; daughters, Janet and her husband David Quamen, Crooks, South Dakota and Joann and her husband Perry Eckhoff, Tea, South Dakota; brother, Allan Hammer and his wife Ruth, Garretson, South Dakota; seven grandchildren, Michelle and her husband Ben VanZante, Pella, Iowa; Lana Hammer, Winsted, Connecticut; Kirby Quamen and his wife Carrie, Mitchell, South Dakota; Kimberly Quamen and Kelly Quamen, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Marques Eckhoff and Megan Eckhoff, Tea, South Dakota; three great-grandchildren, Hannah VanZante; Joshua and Annika Quamen and many other relatives and dear friends.
John was preceded in death by his parents.