Emily E. Hammond

Emily E. Hammond, 99, passed away April 7, 2015 in Lacey, Washington. She was born June 23, 1915 to Valentin and Mary Ursula (Tidl) Zwickler in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Emily grew up in Milwaukee. The year 1921-22, at the age of 6, was the exception when her parents returned with their children to their home country of Austria. With no promise of employment for her father in Austria, the family came back to Milwaukee. After high school graduation, Emily took business courses and began work as a secretary in Milwaukee. At the age of 23, she and her younger sister, Ann, ventured to Colorado and took employment in Estes Park in the Rocky Mountains. Employment in Denver followed for Emily. She returned to Milwaukee during WWII and launched her next adventure with her sister to Hawaii in 1945 to work for the Army. There she met her future husband, Curt Hammond, who was a Major in the U.S. Army. They married in Milwaukee in 1947. The military life moved them first to Pennsylvania followed by Okinowa, New York State (where their two children were born), Texas, Wisconsin (during Curt’s tour in Korea), Illinois, Colorado, California and finally to Washington State. In each of their locations, Emily was active in their Lutheran church and in military wives organizations. She enjoyed homemaking and being a stay-at-home mother. Emily and Curt enjoyed playing bridge and always welcomed visits from their children and their four grandsons. At the age of 88, Emily and Curt moved to Panorama Retirement Community, where they settled for their last 12 years together. Emily is survived by her husband of 67 years, Curt Hammond, age 99; son, James Hammond, and daughter-in-law, Rosanne Horovitz of Olympia, Washington; daughter, Linda Hammond of Boring, Oregon; and four grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Mark Lutheran Church, 2109 College St. SE, Lacey, WA 98503. Please leave memories of Emily or condolences for her family in the Guestbook below.