Jeanette Ann Hammes

Jeanette Hammes of La Crosse, WI, 85, met our heavenly Father and many loved ones on October 18, 2024. She shared her final earthly moments surrounded by members of her family and listening to scripture readings.

She was born in Rockland, WI to Eugene and Elizabeth (Sedevie) Freit, and enjoyed growing up on their family farm with her two brothers. She graduated from Bangor High School in 1956, but didn’t remain single for long.

Jeanette soon married her longtime, childhood sweetheart, Ronald (Ron) Hammes in 1957 at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Middle Ridge. She loved being a mother to her six children, a grandmother to sixteen and a great-grandmother (GG) to twenty-two. Her eyes always had an extra sparkle when little ones were around. Some of her fondest memories were made during her retirement years when she and Ron took groups of the grandchildren in their travel van on vacations around the Midwest and beyond.

When she wasn’t busy raising the children, she was busy gardening to provide all kinds of homegrown fruits and vegetables for the family and shared extras with numerous friends, family and neighbors. The abundance of her gardens was enjoyed year-round after freezing or canning the produce. Making and serving food to others was Jeanette’s love language. She continued cooking, canning and freezing foods to share with others her entire life even after she no longer had her own large garden.

She was especially devoted to her husband, Ron, and worked for nearly 30 years as the office manager, dispatcher and primary bookkeeper for the business they built together, Ron Hammes Refrigeration. Their devotion to that business has sustained multiple generations of the Hammes family over the years. They additionally worked tirelessly to create their own heaven on earth down in a coulee that was at one time a part of Ron’s childhood family farm. Jeanette brought her love of flowers to the coulee and saw every open space as an opportunity for another flower garden that Ron eventually agreed to dig for her.

When Ron died in 2016, Jeanette brought that love of gardening and flowers to her new home on the southside of La Crosse. She brought great joy to neighbors as she planted and tended to her flowers in every part of her yard. She loved garden produce and eventually discovered The Kane Street Community Garden where she faithfully volunteered to help distribute fresh produce to those in need.

Jeanette also took that time to engage more with the Catholic Daughters at Blessed Sacrament Parish where she made many friends that worshiped, prayed, served and fellowshipped together. She was also previously involved in the Bangor Garden Club and The Ridge History Park.

Jeanette is survived by her six children, Dean (Lori) Hammes, Patricia (Don) Heim, Steve (Pam) Hammes, Ann (Mike Hutzenbuehler, fiancé) Lee Burton, James (Sheri) Hammes and Elizabeth (Chris) Weaver; sixteen grandchildren, Nick, Sarah, William, Matt, Michael, Kevin, Krista, Amanda, Jordan, Amanda, Ashley, Ryan, Jessica, Daniel, Allison and Samantha; twenty-two great-grandchildren, Olivia, Ava, Emma, Maya, Bennett, Lennon, Beau, Ava, Georgia, Gavin, Collin, Logan, Rhone, Chloe, James, Abby, Madelyn, Sophia, Ronald Jean (exp 12/24), Ryker, Levi and Josie; and brother Gene (Berdine) Freit along with numerous extended family members

A rosary will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30 followed by visitation with the family from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Blaschke & Schneider Funeral Homes, 1501 West Ave. S., La Crosse. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 31 with visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 130 Losey Blvd. S., La Crosse. Officiants of the mass are Fr. Samuel McCarty and Fr. Peter Raj. Entombment will follow in the Garden Mausoleum at Catholic Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Blessed Sacrament Parish, The Kane Street Community Garden, Catholic Charities of La Crosse, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Special thanks to all the staff at Bethany St. Joseph; Gundersen Health System, especially to Lori Pedretti, RN and Mary Zaky, MD; and St. Croix Hospice for their tender and uplifting care to Jeanette.