Donald James Hammar

“All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses, And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.” — Walt Whitman

Donald James Hammer was born on November 6, 1940 to Samuel Hammar and Ella Pitcher Hammar. He was the oldest of four children and loved teasing his two brothers, Sam and Glen, and his baby sister, Mary. Don was born and raised in Spokane, Washington and spent his early years fishing, hunting, participating in scouts and as an officer for the Jr. High School Boys Federation. As he got older, he learned carpenter skills from his Grandpa O’Bryan and was in the Carpenter’s Union.

Don also played baseball when he was in high school but we think his favorite pastime was flirting.

Don was very smart and always did well in school. His dad was an engineer and his mom tended other children in their home and took jobs cleaning or ironing to make extra money so her kids would have every opportunity.

Don loved spending time helping his mom in the kitchen, not cleaning mind you, but cooking. It was there he learned to bake his famous rolls, cinnamon rolls, English toffee and huckleberry pies. His love for cooking grew and he became an expert. You’d be hard pressed to find a neighbor, friend, student, colleague or family member who didn’t benefit from his culinary talents.

Don met Joan Powell when they were both going to school at BYU and somehow, he convinced her to do the cleaning and ironing his mom used to do for him. He also somehow finessed his way into her apartment for a kiss or two after dropping off his most recent date. Eventually Joan realized he was enjoying the best of two worlds and forced him to choose: her or all the others. Like mentioned before, he was very smart. He chose her. They married on September 4, 1964 in the Salt Lake City temple. They would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary earlier this month had Joan not gone to Heaven last October (probably to get everything in order for his arrival).

Don graduated from BYU with a Master’s Degree in English and taught at BYU in Provo for a few years before accepting a position at Ricks College in 1970. Don and Joan moved to Rexburg with their three children and over the next several years two more children joined the family and made it complete.

Don taught English for almost 50 years and had a passion for great literature. He was always reading us excerpts from books that were both beautiful and profound. We also couldn’t get through a meal without dad correcting our grammar.

Don was a hard worker and a generous and loving man. He followed in the footsteps of his parents and worked endless hours to make sure his wife and children had every opportunity and advantage. He loved teaching English but wanted to be able to provide more for his family so he used all the time he wasn’t on campus to work as a contractor. He and his brother, Sam, and his brother-in-law, Michael, formed a construction company, Hammar Enterprises, around 1974. Don spent every summer, and afternoons and evenings during the school year, building structures, pouring concrete, and working himself and his crew to exhaustion. He taught every crew member that cement work was not what they wanted to do for a living!

Don was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many positions over the years. He had a deep testimony of the Savior and His gospel and taught his children to love God and to love each other.

Don was a perfectionist in everything he did. He loved good deals, good food, good music and his family most of all. He generously opened his home to others and over the years many relatives, crew members, exchange students and later his married kids and grandkids lived in the home he built.

Don left this world on September 30, 2024 and he’s the lucky one because he got to return home to be with his sweetheart again.

The love and generosity of his life will continue to go onward and outward through the lives of those he served and loved.

Don is survived by his children Bryan (Ruth) Hammar, Kari (David) Daniels, Kirsten (Bob) Griggs, Kathy (Justin) Egbert and Mark (Megan) Hammar, 23 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren with three more on the way. He was preceded in death by his wife Joan, his parents, Sam and Ella, his siblings Sam, Glen and Mary, his grandson, Ashton, and great granddaughter, Este.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 11:00 am at the Rexburg East Stake Center located at 387 South 4th East, Rexburg, Idaho. A viewing will be held Thursday evening from 6-8 pm and from 9:30-10:45 am Friday morning at the same location. Interment will follow the funeral at the Rexburg Cemetery. Condolences can be shared at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com.