Robert G. Hammer

Robert Geving Hammer, age 94, was taken home to Heaven on February 22, 2024. 

Robert was born April 14, 1929, in Gilman Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin.  He was the youngest of four sons born to Arthur and Jessie (Geving) Hammer.  He was baptized and confirmed in Gilman Lutheran Church near Spring Valley, WI.

Robert attended the one-room Gilman Center School and the Spring Valley High School.  Following graduation in 1948, he worked at the home farm, other area farms, with Bjornstad Construction, and for Ofstie Construction in Iowa.

In February of 1951, he was inducted into the US Army.  He received basic and advanced training at Fort Bragg, NC.  In November, his unit embarked for the Korean War, where he served on the front lines for ten months with the 623rd Field Artillery Battalion.  He returned to the US in November and was honorably discharged Dec. 30, 1952.

After returning home, Robert started working at Geving & Keehr Furniture and Funeral Home in Spring Valley.  He also attended the WI State College at River Falls.  In 1957, he graduated from the WI Institute of Mortuary Science in Milwaukee, then returned to Spring Valley to work for another year.

Robert was united in marriage to Lorraine Ruth Johnson, on August 12, 1955, at Woodside Lutheran Church near Baldwin, WI.  This union was blessed with four children.  In the spring of 1958, they bought a home in Clear Lake, WI.  Robert, along with his brother Walter, purchased and operated Hammer Furniture and Funeral Service.  In 1994, the funeral business was sold to Dave Scheuermann.  Over the next several years, Robert continued to assist with funeral services.

The Clear Lake community was “home” for 56 years.  Robert actively served his community on the Board of Education, Lions Club, Golf Club, Civic and Commerce Association, First Lutheran Church, and ambulance crew.  He was a life member of VFW Post #5828 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter #52.  His favorite pastimes included:  deer hunting, Canada fishing trips, gardening, camping trips, woodworking, wood crafts, finding and polishing Lake Superior Agates, cutting firewood, walking in the woods, snowshoeing, and driving his John Deere tractor.

In the fall of 2014, failing health and multiple surgeries brought Robert to stay at the nursing home in Grantsburg, WI.  Sharing a room with Lorraine, they had much time together and good daily care.  Walks up and down the hallways, frequent naps in his recliner, visits from family and friends, occasional “road trips”, Milwaukee Brewers games, and Green Bay Packer games were all enjoyed over the years.  On game days, he would be sitting right up close to his TV, wearing his favorite “Packers” sweatshirt.  Robert passed away peacefully on February 22, 2024 at Burnett Medical Center’s Continuing Care Center. 

Robert is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Jessie Hammer; wife, Lorraine; three brothers, Phillip (Anne) Hammer, James (Norma) Hammer, and Walter (Molly, Audrey) Hammer.

Robert is survived by his children:  Jyll (John) Malotky, Jeffery (Christine) Hammer, Rhonda (Allan) Johnson, and Rochelle (Sara Olson) Hammer.

Grandchildren:  Tyler (Katie) Malotky, Laura (Scott) Abels, Paul (Andrea) Johnson, Eric (Lydia) Johnson, Mikaela (Adam Baker) Hammer, Heather (Donovan) Sullivan, Benjamin Hammer, Braeden Malotky, Neela Hammer, Kennion Hammer, Zoe Olson, and Niko Olson.

Great-grandchildren:  Brynlie Abels, Claire Johnson, Theodore Sullivan, Cooper Abels, Edith Sullivan, Brooks Malotky, Nora Johnson, and Mattias Johnson.

Robert’s family would like to express our sincere gratitude to so many wonderful staff people at the Continuing Care Center.  Your love, care, help, kindness, and support these past years has been a great blessing!  

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