Irene Hammes

Irene A. Hammes, age 101, formerly of Middle Ridge and St. Joseph Ridge, completed her earthly journey and passed peacefully with family at her side on June 19, 2017. Her profound faith in God was a constant, and the promise of eternal life was a given. Irene will finally be reunited with the love of her life, her husband, Leo Hammes Sr.

Irene was born near Middle Ridge in rural Lacrosse County to Bill and Dora Gronemus and attended school in Middle Ridge. As a young woman, Irene’s path crossed with a young suitor, Leo Hammes, at a dance hall on Newburg’s Corner, and she described it as love at first sight. Irene and Leo were soon inseparable and wedding vows followed on November 20, 1934. Their marriage and love for each other was their dream come true.

Not many years later, with their family growing, Irene and Leo purchased a dairy farm near Middle Ridge where they would raise their eight children. Times were challenging for a number of years, but they made the best of what they had and ultimately made a comfortable living as farmers. It was a sad day for Irene when she and Leo had to leave the farm they loved, due to Leo’s health issues.

Irene and Leo’s marriage was their sacred pact to each other. They were akin to a team of horses hitched together, and it was clear they truly loved and respected each other, worked together, with and for each other, and ended each day with their ritual of nightly prayer and telling each other “I love you.” Prayer and their faith in God was the foundation upon which they built their lives that helped them weather the many difficult times they would encounter in their 53 years of marriage. When Leo passed away in December 1987, Irene was certain she couldn’t survive without him. Her strong faith made that possible.

After their 8 children were mostly grown and gone, Irene changed from her homemaker role to work part-time in the kitchen at the Villa St. Joseph where she worked for many years. When she retired from the Villa St. Joseph she became a volunteer for many more years at Gundersen Lutheran Hospital, working in the gift shop, assisting with administrative duties, and wherever else her services were needed. She was also a devoted member of the Catholic Daughters.

Irene was a warm and loving person who never wanted to impose on anyone, and was always grateful to those who extended kindness towards her. She always managed to see the positive in life and accept its struggles. When sad or difficult times occurred, she was often known to say, “Well, what can you do? You just have to accept it and move on,” a belief she unwittingly taught her family.

Irene is survived by her sons Kenneth of Wausau, and Leo Jr. (Jan) of Sterling Il, and daughter Reneé Hammes (Steve Althoff) of West Salem, 22 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Hammes Sr.; sons Ronald, David, Robert, and Jerome, and daughter, Mary Ellen Pitz; along with all of her siblings.

We have lost an amazing mother, grandmother, friend, and lover of nature, matron of the flowers, a farmer and farmer’s wife who appreciated the land they tilled. Our loss is Heaven’s gain; her flowers will bloom there in eternal spring, her carrot cakes, graham cracker pies, and Kuchen will grace many a gathering. Her love and kindness will shine on.

Irene’s final request was simple and sincere, “I want to go home.” Goodnight Irene. Rest in peace. You will be missed by so many.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 26 ^th , at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Middle Ridge. Msgr. Robert Hundt will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Family and friends may call from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., on Sunday at the church, where a rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m., and again from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass on Monday. In lieu of flowers, Irene requested that memorials be given to St. Peter’s Church, Middle Ridge, or to the charity of your choosing.

The family would like to give special thanks to those who cared for Irene so lovingly and brought joy to her heart these past three years: Marianne, Mai Lee, and Becky from The Willows; Jib at Bethany Riverside Nursing Home; and Jesse, Kaileen, Caitlin, and Val at Hearten House I. You were all so wonderful to her. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.