Roy Hammer

Roy Louis Hammer was born June 23, 1924 at home in rural New York Mills. His parents were Frederick Hugo and Helen (Hollstein) Hammer. He attended and graduated eighth grade from Davies Country School, some of his grandchildren later attended Davies High School in Fargo, ND.

After eighth grade Roy worked on the family farm and worked out cutting wood. Hammers had a threshing machine and harvested the neighbors’ grain as well as their own.

In January of 1945, Roy and many other young men were called pre-induction for the military service. He joined the United States Navy in February. Roy was first stationed at the Great Lakes.  He was baptized at Camp Endicott, Rhode Island.  From there he was stationed in California, Pearl Harbor, Guam and Waikiki Beach, Hawaii where he saw his brother Henry who was in the Army. Roy and Henry were scheduled for the invasion of Japan, but the atomic bomb was dropped and took many lives and saved more, ending World War II.

Roy and Henry farmed together for a few years.  Roy was married to Marlys June Moilanen on July 30, 1951. They joined Immanuel Lutheran Church in Blowers Township and later transferred to Trinity Lutheran Church.

Roy loved living on the farm and farming. After retirement in 1985, Roy and June traveled to Florida for 32 winters, where Roy became the local handyman. Roy cultivated for his nephew, Roger in the summer. Roy moved into Perham Living in February of 2017. Roy enjoyed playing cards with his brothers and the Canadians. Later he played Rummy with June and the girls.

On March 9, 2020 Roy passed away peacefully at Perham Living at 95 years of age.  He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.  Preceding Roy in death, were his parents, brothers: infant Harry, Leo (Clarine), Clemence (Margit), and Henry; sisters: Laura (Alfred) Wohlert, Edith (Clifford) Imsande; 2 nephews: Roger Hammer and Gene Imsande. There are other relatives here and in Canada, we miss friends who have passed away.

Roy and June were the parents of four daughters, Linda (Edward) Jaakola, Judith (Terry) Trader, Lois (Pete) Greisen, Dena (Mike) Lachowitzer; 9 grandchildren: Derek and Anthony Jaakola, Brandon (Samantha), Ben (Jodi), and Dustin (Kelly) Greisen, Lindsey and Taylor Trader, and Jacob and Tarin Lachowitzer; 8 great-grandchildren; nephews: Leslie and Harold (Jean) Wohlert; nieces: Marlene (Duane) Haas, Carol (Jim) Christopherson, Rosemary (Jim) Lupien,  Darlene (Leo) Heyne and Sharon Imsande; many other relatives and a host of friends.

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