Donald “Don” L. Hammer, age 91, of Arthur, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at the St. Luke’s Unity Point Hospital of Sioux City.  A funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 31, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the Faith Lutheran Church of Holstein with the Pastor Chris Schroder officiating.  Burial will be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein with Military Rites conducted by the McNamara-Moore Post No. 61 of the American Legion of Ida Grove.  A visitation will be held on Friday, December 30, 2016 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM with the family present from 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein. 

     Donald L. Hammer was born to Ben and Dora (Gehrts) Hammer, northeast of Holstein, Iowa, Cherokee County, on March 7, 1925.  He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Galva as an infant.  He was confirmed at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cushing on July 2, 1939.

     As a young boy, he moved to Cushing, Iowa, where he attended school through the third grade, before moving to a farm south of Correctionville where he continued his education at a country school and one year of high school.  From there, the family moved to a farm northwest of Holstein and Don graduated from Holstein High School in 1942.  His young adult years were spent working on the family farm before he enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  He was stationed on Guam with the Seebees Construction Battalion.

     On March 18, 1948, Don and Wilma Heilman were united in marriage at the Cushing Methodist Church.  To this union three children were born:  Rollie, Gary and Donna.  They purchased a farm north of Arthur, Iowa, and moved there in February of 1959, where Don farmed and the family grew.

     Through the years, Don served his church and followed his Lord with his strong faith was his priority.

     Don was a member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Holstein, Iowa and a member of the American Legion Post #61 in Ida Grove.

     He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Earl and sister, Vesta Fey.

     Survivors include his wife, Wilma; three children, Rollie of Story City, Iowa, Gary (Linda) of Evart, Michigan, and Donna (Fred) Reineke of Sigourney, Iowa; eight grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; five step great grandchildren; brothers, Alvin (Phyllis) Hammer of Cherokee and Dean (Karen) Hammer of Ida Grove; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends.

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