In Memory of Rachel A. Hammer

Rachel A. Hammer, age 96, of Cherokee, Iowa, (formerly of Holstein & Ida Grove, Iowa) passed away on Thursday, December 30, 2021, at Accura Health Care of Cherokee, Iowa

A Funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, January 7, 2022, at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein, Iowa. Rev. Doresa K. Collogan will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery of Battle Creek, Iowa. A Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at the Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa.  

 The Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements.  Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Rachel A. Hammer, born September 21, 1925 in Battle Creek, Iowa, Rachel was the daughter of Earl H. and Florence A. (Schmidt) Spotts.  She resided on the family farm northwest of Battle Creek and attended country school as a child in Maple Township.  She was affectionately known as “Rae” by her siblings and friends and graduated from the Battle Creek High School in the class of 1943.

After high school graduation Rachel attended the University of Iowa for one year to study nursing but was called home to help with the family and care for her mother and siblings.

Rachel married Edwin W. Hammer on January 28, 1948 in Minnesota. To this union three children were born, Michael, Mark and Marvel. They lived on 3 area farms prior to establishing the family farm in 1968 where Mark currently resides. She attended the children’s activities and spent many hours on the bleachers for sporting events and assisting Marvel with Make It with Wool Contests and 4-H projects.

Rachel was a member of the Battle Creek Neighborly Neighbors, Lone Star Homemakers, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Ladies Aid, 500 neighborhood card clubs and Ida County Fair Superintendent in the Needlework Division for many years. Rachel was known as an excellent cook providing meals for her family making “mile high meringue” for her pies, 7 layer jello salad at holidays, and always had cookies in the cookie jar. She spent hours on crewel pictures and tending her beloved roses. Believing in the benefits of exercise Rachel walked around the farm section long before it was a popular concept.

Rachel completed her dream of becoming a nurse and in 1980 she obtained her LPN license from Western Iowa Tech Community College.  After graduation she worked at Horn Memorial Hospital in Ida Grove and Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Holstein. Rachel also provided 24 hour in-home care through Beverly Home Care. She returned to work at Horn Memorial Hospital for several years in the dietary department.

In 1993, Rachel and Ed retired and moved to Ida Grove, where she was active in the Senior Citizens and would often walk to and from the noon meals. She was an avid reader and lifetime learner and lover of books.  Rachel loved jigsaw and word search puzzles, played Uno for hours with the grandchildren, and was a member of several card clubs. They enjoyed family vacations to California, Oregon, and South Dakota.

Survivors include her children: Michael (Leanne) Hammer of Holstein, IA, Mark (Londa) Hammer of Ida Grove, IA and Marvel (Scott Hompland) Hammer of Denver, CO, four grandchildren: Christy Hammer of Grimes, IA, Marissa (Leonard) Miller of Verona, PA, Logan Hammer of De Soto, IA and Angela (Cody) Rasmus of Holstein; four great-grandchildren: Lincoln, Paxton, Kenlin and Annison Rasmus of Holstein, IA.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Edwin in 1998; her siblings Inez Maxwell, Don Spotts and Beverlyn Schumacher; and many other family and good friends.