Kaye H. Hammer (1939-2021)

HAMMER, SPROULE, CHILDS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/19/2021 at 12:06:22

Kay Helene Hammer, 82, of Apple River, IL, passed away on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, at Midwest Medical Center, in Galena, IL, of Congestive Heart Failure
Kay was born on June 7, 1939, in Galena, IL, the 3rd child of Irvin and Dorothy (Sproule) Childs. She married Robert C. Hammer, on August 16, 1958, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, in Galena, IL, by Reverend John Dolan. They resided and worked the family farm together with their 2 sons in rural Apple River for 63 years until Robert's death in 2007. Kay attended St. Mary's Catholic School, in Galena, and St. Joseph's Academy, in Dubuque, where she graduated in 1957. Besides working the farm with her family, she joined St. Joseph's Catholic Church, in Apple River, where she was a CCD Teacher, sacristan and Eucharistic Minister and an active member of the Altar and Rosary Society. She also served as an Election Judge for many years. Kay's hobbies include ceramics, feeding the birds and flower gardens. She loved spending time with her family and friends playing card games, talking on the phone and shopping. When it came to holidays, she always went all out on gifts for everyone, especially the grandkids!
Kay had a big heart to match her larger-than-life personality. She will be dearly missed by her 2 sons, Ronald and Richard (Mary), both of rural Apple River; her 4 grandchildren, Keith (Brittany), of Dubuque, Megan (Mike Broege), Seth (friend, Angel Marzofka), all of Apple River, and Tristen (Ryan) Travis, of Scales Mound; 5 great-grandchildren, Charlie, Kyle and Faith Broege, of Apple River, Rhett and Wyatt Travis, of Scales Mound.
Kay is preceded in death by her husband; parents; sisters, Nancy (Brownie) Steinle, Shirley (Dale) Hillary and Mary Childs, all of Galena; a granddaughter, Lynnette Marie Hammer; a special Aunt, Helene Allen; and a special cousin, Judy Esterline.
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 227 S. Bench Street, in Galena, on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at 1 P/M, with Fr. Howard C. Barch, Jr, and Fr. Andrew Skrobutt officiating. Burial will be in St. Michael's Cemetery, in Galena. Visitation will be from 11:30 A/M - 12:45 P/M, on Tuesday, at the Church. The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed on the MILLER FUNERAL HOME GROUP FACEBOOK page.
The Miller & Steinke Funeral Home, of Scales Mound, is serving the family.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.millerfhed.com