Roland Hammer

Roland James Hammer

Myrtle Beach, SC

Roland James Hammer, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 26th, 2023 surrounded by family.  Born on August 29, 1935, Roland made his priorities God, family, and friends.  He was raised in Jackson, Michigan, and graduated from Jackson High School in 1953.  After graduation, he started working at Clark Equipment Company in Jackson and married Mary Lou (Rutan) Hammer.  Shortly after their marriage, he was drafted into the US Army in 1958 and spent the next 2 years working for the Army Corps of Engineers in Washington, DC.  After leaving the Army in 1960 he and Mary Lou returned to Clark Lake, Michigan where they started their family and together had 6 children.  Roland worked hard to provide for his family and returned to Clark Equipment where he worked as a Mechanical Engineer.  In 1982, Clark Equipment closed down their Jackson Plant so Roland was relocated to their Statesville, NC location and he and Mary Lou divorced.  In Statesville, he met the love of his life, Carole Leischner who also worked for Clark Equipment.  Although separated from his family in Michigan, Roland remained actively involved in his family’s lives making sure everyone knew how proud he was of them and how loved they were.  Whether it be daily phone calls or many, many trips to Michigan, he was always there when his family needed him.  After 35+ years he retired from Clark Equipment.  He and Carole spent time going back and forth from Statesville to Myrtle Beach.  They loved spending time at the beach and it became a place where both families visited and vacationed and so many wonderful memories were made.  Carole and Roland spent 35 amazing years together until she lost her 10-year battle with cancer in October 2017.  Wanting to be near their happy place at the beach, Roland moved permanently to Myrtle Beach after her passing.  He spent the remainder of his life there where he was joined in 2021 by his youngest daughter, Angie, and her family who cared for him until his last day. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Carl and Gertrude (Terry) Hammer, his brother Hugh, and his beloved Carole Leischner. 

Roland is survived by his sister Carlene (Carroll) Perrine; sister-in-law, Edna (Hammer) Clayton; his children, Brian K. Hammer, Dr. Richard M. Hammer (Jennifer Estel), Robin L. Hammer (Mark Niekowal), R.J Hammer (Hon. Kimberly Booher-Hammer, David A. Hammer (Jennifer), and Angela A. Hermanns (Todd); grandchildren, Brian, Ed, Austin, Amanda, Michael, Logan, Grant, Kelsey, Madison, and Ethan; 5 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. 

His Celebration of Life Service will occur on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Northwest Baptist Church 7600 Lansing Ave, Jackson, MI 49201. 

Mr. Hammer is entrusted to the care of Kelvin F. Lewis, Funeral Director, and Lewis Crematory & Funeral Services of Myrtle Beach, SC. (843) 294-0011.

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