Gene Hammer

Gene Hammer died December 19, 2019. He was born in Canal Fulton on June 14, 1924 (Flag Day) and moved to Massillon at age 10 and spent the remainder of his life in the City of Massillon. He was the son of Orison and Hazel Hammer. He was employed at the Griscom-Russel Co. and operated Hammer Enterprises and Sales Co. He was also employed at Minerva Paper Co., the Timken Co., and had been an Ohio State Auctioneer since 1949. He was a big band record collector and at one time had one of the largest record collections in the city. He was a World War II veteran serving with the U.S. Army Medical Corps. He served in England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 3124 and played in the drum and bugle corps. He was a member of the K of C 554 and the Massillon Eagles 190. He was preceded in death by his father and mother and former wife Beverly, as well as five aunts, a sister, seven uncles, a brother-in-law, a daughter-in-law, a nephew, and cousins. He is survived by children, Cheryl Marsh, Gordon “Cork” Hammer, and Thomas “Tom” Hammer, grandchildren, Melissa and Justin (Kristy Dawson) Marsh, Darla (Harry) Johnson, and Douglas (Lara) Hammer, great-grandchildren, Justin Marsh Jr., Kortney Dawson, Anthony Loomis, Katelyn Marsh, Kelly and Keith Hammer, Jessica and Jake Johnson, nephews, Kenny, Bobby, and David Girt, nieces, Sandy Girt, Joan Alexander, and Linda Sandrock. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Barbara Catholic Church in Massillon on Monday, December 23, 2019 at 10a.m. Friends and family may call an hour before the service at the church. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery. Flowers last such a short time, but memorials last forever. Memorials can be made to St. Barbara School or Knights of Columbus Hot Lunch Program. A special thank you to Randy Speicher and all of Dad's 7 care takers. I couldn't have done it without you. Messages of comfort and sympathy may be made to www.paquelet.com.