Luella Laura Hammer

Luella Laura Hammer, formerly of Chaplin and Alameda, SK, passed away on Sunday, December 15th, 2013 at Carnduff Sunset Haven Nursing Home, Carnduff, SK.  She was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Raymann (2010); son, Carl (1982); father, Louis (1954); mother, Minnie (1974), sisters, Edna (2007) and Mabel (2013), brother, Henry (1923), brothers-in-law: Bill Isley, Pat Harty, Henry, Earnest, Oswald, Gordon and Harold Hammer; sisters-in-law: Selma, Pearl, Violet and their spouses.  Luella is survived by her daughters, Lois (Colin) McLeod and Doris (Walter) Morrow; grandchildren: Rodney Hammer, Paul (Corinne) Hammer, Audra Hammer (Marques Gettle), Christine (Steve) Richards and Jennifer (Robert) Schwartz; great-grandchildren: Janae and Jensen Hammer, Bailey Hammer, Fynlie Gettle, Darren and Emily Richards, and Gabriella Schwartz; brother-in-law, Paul (Jack) Hammer (Ruby); sister-in-law, Frieda Beglau; cousins in both the Hammer and Hollstein families in Canada and Minnesota; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.  Luella was born on August 26th, 1916 at the family home in the Pine Lake District with Mrs. Aggie Andrews as midwife.  She was the third of four children born to Minnie and Louis Hammer,  In 1921 the family moved to land about 1 mile from Northam School in the Halvorgate area.  Her brother, Henry Albert, passed away in 1923.  Her father took the children to school by horse and sleigh in the winter and in the summer, the three girls rode old Nellie.  After having to learn to speak English in school as German was spoken at home, Luella passed her Grade 8 with honors in 1929.  She took part of her Grade 9 by correspondence.  In 1937, Luella and her sister went out to Penticton, BC where an aunt and uncle lived.  Luella worked as a housekeeper, picked cherries and worked in the Aylmer Fruit Cannery.  Luella and Mabel went on to Vancouver where they worked in the Boeing Aircraft Factory.  Every fall, she would return home to help her dad with the harvest.  Luella and Raymann Hammer were married on March 29, 1945 in Moose Jaw.  They started farming in the Bothwell School District.  In 1953, they moved to the farm just north of Chaplin wanting to be closer to the school for their children, Carl, Lois and Doris.  They moved into Chaplin in 1968, but continued to farm with Carl and Darlene until 1979.  Luella was truly a farmer’s wife as she helped with all the farm work, as well as raising chickens and turkeys, and having a huge garden.  Luella was a member of the Chaplin Lutheran Church and the Chaplin Senior’s Club.  She was a competitive card player.  She did all sorts of home-canning, making all types of fruit, jam, pickles, chicken and meat.  She was still canning fruit after they moved to Alameda in 2005.  Luella loved to curl, fish, play cards and travel.  Most of the trips involved visiting family.  They travelled to destinations right across Canada and into many areas of the United States, especially Minnesota where the American cousins lived.  In 2005 Luella and Raymann moved to Alameda. They were closer to Doris who would take them for medical appointments.  They lived in the Prairie View Lodge where they made many new friends.  They joined the Alameda Merrymaker’s Senior Club.  They enjoyed the potluck suppers and card parties held at both places.  In 2008, with both Luella and Raymann needing more medical attention, they moved to the Carnduff Sunset Haven Nursing Home.  After Raymann’s passing in 2010, Luella continued to live in the assisted-living section of the home until the spring of 2013.  With her health issues, she was moved into the Nursing Wing where she was residing at the time of her passing.  The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 17th, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. in Moose Jaw Funeral Home. Pastor Marvin Seaborg will officiate and interment will take place at Chaplin Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Luella’s memory may be made to Mainstreet Community Services, 1453 Main St, Box 432, Stittsville, ON K2S 1A6, Borderline Housing/Sunset Haven Nursing Home, 415 Spencer St., Carnduff, SK S0C 0S0 or the Chaplin Cemetery Fund c/o RM of Chaplin No. 164, Chaplin, SK S0H 0V0.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane.  Calvin Gammel, Funeral Director 306-693-4550.