Walt Hammill

WALT HAMMILL

Marion

Walt Hammill, 68, of Marion, died Wednesday, July 15, 2015, after a long battle with cancer. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 24, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be Thursday, July 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, Cedar Rapids. Private family inurnment will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Walt was born Aug. 12, 1946, to Robert L. and Jean E. Hammill in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1964 and from Upper Iowa University in 1972. He married Jean M. Pohlmann on Aug. 15, 1970, and would have celebrated 45 years of marriage this August.

Walt taught in the Springville Community School for 35 years, retiring in 2007. He touched thousands of lives in his career and was a great role model for his students. He also served as business manager at Marion Physical Therapy for 16 years.

He was active in the National Education Association and Iowa State Education Association and served for a number of years as a UNISERVE volunteer assisting teachers with negotiating their contracts. He worked closely for many years with the American Heart Association to raise money through the Jump Rope for Heart effort.

Walt enjoyed traveling to his favorite place on earth, Kauai, Hawaii, and he and Jean were able to vacation there on numerous occasions. He also loved watching his beloved St. Louis Cardinals baseball team and the Iowa Hawkeyes football team. He enjoyed watching and playing board games with his grandchildren. All who knew Walt are better for the experience.

Survivors include his wife, Jean M. Hammill, Marion; son, Rob (Sara) Hammill, Penn Laird, Va.; daughter, Kim (Matt) Gregorich, Anamosa; four grandchildren, Jackson and Norah Hammill and Emma and Joseph Gregorich; sister, Carol Hammill, Maquoketa; and brother, Matt Hammill, Cedar Rapids.

Great thanks goes to Dr. Ghosh and his staff for their support for nine years, and in the last few weeks to Hospice of Mercy and the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Springville Community School Foundation for the Walt Hammill Education Scholarship designated for students interested in elementary education or physical education. Donations also can be made to the Anna Purna Ghosh Foundation, Hospice of Mercy or the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left to the Hammill family by visiting www.cedar memorial.com under obituaries.