Harold “Gene” Eugene Hammer was born on September 14, 1942, to Harold Robert & Mabel Emily (Barleen) Hammer, in Concordia, Kansas. Gene grew up on the family farm, and attended grade school in Norway. He then attended and graduated from Scandia High School, and went on to Fort Hays State University where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree.
Between his junior and senior years in college, he was united in marriage to Vicki Sue Reece in Wichita, Kansas, on July 20, 1963. To this union of 61 years, a daughter Amy was born.
Following his graduation from Fort Hays, Gene returned to the Scandia area where he taught school in Norway before he was drafted into the US Army in June 1968. Gene served with the 101st Airborne and was deployed to Vietnam where he was exposed to Agent Orange. Following his honorable discharge in June 1970, Gene returned to Scandia and worked for his father-in-law’s insurance agency, and then for the Peoples Bank in Belleville, where he retired.
In his spare time, Gene farmed with his brothers in the Scandia and Norway areas, and he enjoyed hunting and being outdoors.
Gene passed away on July 22, 2024, at the age of 81 years, 10 months, and 8 days, in Concordia, Kansas.
He is preceded in death by his parents Harold and Mabel Hammer, and brothers Loren and Maurice Hammer.
He is survived by his wife Sue Hammer of Concordia, daughter Amy Steeples and her husband Flint of Spring, Texas, grandchildren Holly and Nolan Steeples, brothers Gary Hammer (Linda) and Don Hammer (Annette), sister Virginia Hawley (Ron), sisters-in-law Linda Hammer and Loretta Hammer, nieces, nephews, and many friends.
Graveside Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 11:00 am, at the Norway Cemetery, Norway, Kansas. Military Honors will be provided by the US Army Honor Detail from Fort Riley, Kansas. Following the services, family and friends are invited to the Norway Community Center for a luncheon with the family.
Memorials are requested to the Gene Hammer Memorial to benefit Sunset Home, Meadowlark Hospice, and Pivotal Health, and may be sent in care of Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home, PO Box 566, Belleville, Kansas, 66935.
Tibbetts-Fischer Funeral Home of Belleville is assisting the Hammer family with these arrangements.
