John Henry Hammer II's Obituary
John Henry Hammer II, aged 82, of Tampa, FL, died on December 27, 2025.
He was born on December 27, 1943, in Bartlesville, OK, to John Henry Hammer and Guadalupe Robles. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Dennis Hammer and Joe Robles Jr. He is survived by his siblings Carol Abner, Diana Hammer, Anita Ruiz, Stella Mata, and Eva Robles. John is also survived by his son John H. Hammer III, his daughter Erica Hammer Moore (Christian Moore), his daughter Megan C. Hammer (Byron Baugh), and his two granddaughters Ava Moore and Audrey Moore.
John was a graduate from Bishop Noll Institute in 1962 and worked several summers for Inland Steel Co.
He earned his MBA from the University of Illinois and held several executive positions throughout his career. In 1974, John joined the staff of St. Catherine's Hospital in East Chicago as the assistant director of human resources, a position he held until 1980.
From 1980 to 1988, John worked at Lakeview Medical Center, first as the director of personnel and then the vice president. For the next seven years, he served as vice president of United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville, Illinois.
John served as an assistant director of operations and maintenance at the University of Illinois Student Union from 1997 until 2007. He retired in 2007, working on a part-time basis with the U of I operations team afterwards.
John was particularly proud of having served on active duty in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1971. He joined the U.S. Air Force Reserve in 1974 and served until 1993 when he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. During his time in the Reserves, he won a variety of awards for his services, including Outstanding Company Grade Officer of the Year at Grissom Air Force Base in 1977, Communications Squadron Commander of the Year in 1987 and 1980, and his unit being named Communications Squadron of the Year in 1988.
John enjoyed travelling and shared his love of exploring with his family. He was passionate about learning and education, always encouraging those around him to seek out education and strive for knowledge. John was creative– he wrote poetry and was known for his DIY projects. He also loved solitary pursuits such as reading, watching movies, and walking. His most prominent talents were knowing the answer to most trivia questions and finding creative solutions to any problem. His final years were quiet, but filled with the things he loved - spending time with others, listening to music, watching TV, and enjoying the (mostly) warm Florida weather. His life was a rich and diverse tapestry with much love and many adventures.
A funeral memorial service/luncheon will be held at VFW Post 717 in St. John, Indiana, on Sunday, February 8th, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm CST.
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