Hammen, Allen "Newk"

Other Events:

• Obituary: 25 Mar 2018; APC

Notes:

Obituary:
Kimberly - Allen "Newk" Hammen, age 79, peacefully transitioned on Thursday, March 8, 2018. He was preceded in death by his spouse and childhood sweetheart of 66 years, Gayle (Vander Velden). May the spark that brought them together in life illuminate their way together again.
Newk was the son of the late Joseph and Viola (Crowe) Hammen. He is survived by his daughters: Holly Hammen of Bloomington, MN; and Wendy (Bill) Huss of Sherwood, WI; and four grandchildren: Michael and Joe Giese and Haley and Megan Huss. Newk is also survived by his sister, Shirley (Glen) Puls; sister-in-law, Joan Hammen; and brother and sisters-in-law: Lee (Carol) and Wes (Cathie) Vander Velden.
In addition to his parents and wife, Gayle, Newk is preceded in death by his brothers, Ronald and Thomas Hammen.
After graduating from Kimberly High School, Newk joined Kimberly Clark paper mill. He completed trade school as an electrician and retired at 57. Family and friends knew Newk as someone that could fix anything. He was innovative in finding new ways to make things work. Newk also spent time in Army Reserves.
Sports were a mainstay throughout Newk's life. He competed in all types of sports in school: basketball, football and baseball. As a young adult, Newk continued to play basketball and softball well into his forties and he was inducted in the Kimberly Athletic Hall of Fame. When he did not compete, Newk refereed basketball and umpired softball. Later in life, Newk enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing and playing cards. He loved to win, and he could be most colorful when he lost!
Early retirement allowed Newk to spend summers at his home at Lake Poygan fishing and winters at his home in south Texas golfing. In retirement, Newk found a new sport's passion; he loved following his grandchildren compete in their sports and attended many of their events.
While Newk was a tenacious competitor in life, he faced death with incredible calm, courage, dignity and grace. Newk's life was just too short. He is dearly missed by family and friends.
Newk will be remembered on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at O'CONNELL FUNERAL HOME (1776 E. Main Street, Little Chute) beginning at 1:00 PM with a brief sermon at 3:00 PM. His family will not accept gifts or donations, but ask that those who want to remember Newk do so by 'paying forward' in his name to a person in need. To sign the guest book, please visit oconnellfh.com.
Published in Appleton Post-Crescent on Mar. 25, 2018

Allen married VanderVelden, Gayle 17 Nov 1960. Gayle (daughter of VanderVelden, Elmer J. and Morris, Bonnie Lavonne) was born 13 Oct 1940; died 30 Nov 2016, Kimberly, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

Wendy married Huss, William (son of Huss, Eugene and Haen, Mary Lynn) [Group Sheet]