Gregory "Hammer" James Hamm

Gregory J. "Hammer" Hamm, 61, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, July 29, 2017, at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Memorial services will be held Thursday, August 3rd, at 10:30 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, IA, with Pastor Lynn Noel and Rev. Steve Brackett officiating. Burial will be at Waterville Lutheran Cemetery, Waterville, IA. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Wednesday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon and one hour before services at the church on Thursday.


Gregory James Hamm was born April 8, 1956, in Waukon, IA, the son of Barton D. and Marilyn J. (Kolsrud) Hamm. He was baptized and confirmed at Waterville Lutheran Church in Waterville, IA. Greg attended Waterville Elementary School and graduated from Waukon High School in 1974. On September 6, 1975 he married Rebecca Smrcina at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon. For the past 15 years he has been a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, IA, where he served as the family and youth ministry facilitator. Greg was very creative and wrote his own plays, skits, and poems for many youth ministry groups throughout the years. He also loved to become his own character making his own costumes with his amazing talents, and Becky's help.


Greg enjoyed music, old movies especially the Three Stooges, writing poems, bonfires with his family and he was an avid Minnesota Twins fan. He loved spending time with his family especially his grandchildren. Greg was a very simple man and his faith was very important to him and God was # 1.

Survivors include his wife Becky of Waukon; his children: Jason Hamm of Viroqua, WI, Jana (Eric) Troendle of Harpers Ferry, IA, and Jerrod (Sara) Hamm of Manchester, IA; nine grandchildren: Mariah Andregg, Chelsea and Madeline Hamm, Ethan Optiz, Haley and Savanna Hamm, Kylie, Thomas, and Tanner Troendle; his parents Bart and Marilyn Hamm of Waukon; two brothers: Jeff Hamm and Brad (Cyndi Luster) Hamm both of Waterville, IA; and a sister Sandy (Tim) Rathe of Urbana, IA.

Honorary casketbearers are Bill Halvorson, The Late Rev. Allen Hermeier, Mike Jacobson, Dennis Koenig, Jim Kruse, Dean Ohloff, Jeff Olson, Kenny Upton, Mark Zieman, and Greg's grandchildren.