George Hammell

George J. Hammell of rural Caledonia, MN died peacefully at Thornton Heights Assisted Living in Lansing February 2, 2015, his 93rd birthday. Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, February 6 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, New Albin, with Rev. John Moser as the celebrant. Burial followed in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, New Albin.
George was born in rural New Albin to George and Elizabeth (Wall) Hammell February 2, 1922 (2-2-22). He was married June 19, 1947 to Mary E. Manning, who passed away January 12, 2008.
George was a life-long farmer in the New Albin area and was an active member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He served on the Jefferson Township Board for many years, was a Fire Warden and served as a weather observer for the U.S. Weather Service.  George’s family and community were very important to him.
George is survived by five daughters, Margaret (Tim) Nordwig of Watertown, WI, Anna (Gary) Meiners of Caledonia, MN, Phyllis  Yarber of Columbia, IL, Theresa (Gene) Ostert of Green Bay, WI and Donna (A.K.) Kinard of Darien, WI; three sons, Pat (Nancy) Hammell of West Bend, WI, Joe (Diana) Hammell of Caledonia, MN and Ed (Jan) Hammell of Caledonia, MN; 25 grandchildren, Jamie, Jared, Abe, Jed, Luke, Katrina, Mark, Brian, Megan, Nick, Bethanie, Tom, Paul, Ben, Matt, David, Laura, Katie, Michael, Courtney, Allie, Nikita, Jesse, Jeremy and Tiffany. He is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Larry (Wilma) Hammell and Jim (Ila) Hammell; four sisters, Alberta Troendle, Sister Georgia Hammell, Pauline Blaskowski and Esther Walleser; and his sisters- and brother-in-law, Mary Manning and Jim and Kay Manning.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, in 2008; a brother, Earl; a sister, Anna Collins; his in-laws, Joe Troendle, Ernest Blaskowski, Eleanor Hammell, Lawrence Walleser, Robert Collins, Harold and Evelyn Manning, Joe and Marguerite Manning, George Manning, Leo and Dorothy Manning, and Marcella and Leo Mullarkey; and two sons-in-law, Larry Yarber and Jeff Littlejohn.
Condolences may be left at www.graufuneralhomes.com. Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Lansing assisted the family with arrangements.