Garry R Hamacher

Garry R. Hamacher, 84, passed away Friday, April 11, 2025, while walking his beloved dog Karina in Eugene, Oregon. Garry was born on August 10, 1940 to Louis L. Hamacher and Marjorie M. Hamacher in Gary, IN. He graduated from Valparaiso High School in 1958. After high school, Garry joined the Air Force. He was proud to be a veteran. Garry worked for Bethlehem Steel in Gary, IN for more than 20 years, after which he worked as a long-haul trucker and a master painter/wallpaper layer. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, grilling, and experimenting with new recipes. Garry married Carolyn R. Jessop in 1974, taking on the care of her three children from a previous marriage: Michael Wayne Jessop, Laura Lynn Jessop and Anne Marie Jessop. Stepparents are true angels sent from above to lighten the burden and bring restoration to a family. Both Garry and Carolyn spent many happy hours with their friends at the Elks Club of Valparaiso, IN, where Garry served as Exalted Ruler in 1979. Carolyn and Garry also enjoyed boating, RVing, gardening, and visiting local arts and craft fairs. When Carolyn developed cancer, Garry was the rock on which she leaned until her death in 1993. Garry later met and fell in love with Annagret Hoffman. They shared the rest of their lives together in Eugene, OR, where they were involved in bird rescue, supporting various bird rescue organizations, and teaching bird care classes throughout the state. They also fostered kittens and helped trap feral cats to be spayed or neutered. When Annagret’s health began to fail, Garry demonstrated a truly remarkable spirit of loyalty and commitment, caregiving for her as he had for Carolyn. Beloved son, brother, uncle, friend, father, and world’s best grandfather, he will be sorely missed. Garry is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Duane and Christine Hamacher; his niece and nephews Julia Wagner, Dustin Hamacher, and Marcus Hamacher; his children Laura Carr and Anne Duret; his seven grandchildren James Jessop, Paige Pray, Ruth Meixner, Daniel Shaw, Stuart Shaw, Anais Mohler, and Aniele Mainville; and his seven great-grandchildren Jayce Jessop, Jasper Jessop, Josiah Jessop, Bella Meixner, Robbie Meixner, Elijah Meixner, and Maya Pray. He was preceded in death by his parents, his two loves, Carolyn Hamacher and Annagret Hoffman, and his son Michael Jessop.