James H. Hamer

James H. Hamer, 86, a life-long resident of Atkinson, passed away on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Hillcrest Home in Geneseo, IL, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 30, 2018, at the Atkinson Congregational Church. Reverend Dan Wright will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Geneseo. Visitation will take place on Sunday, April 29, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Vandemore Funeral Home & Crematory, Atkinson Chapel, where a Masonic ritual will be conducted at 5:00 p.m. by Stewart Masonic Lodge #92 AF&AM. Memorials may be left to the Jim Hamer Memorial Fund, which will be distributed among several local organizations.

Jim was born on July 19, 1931, the son of William and Julia (Nowers) Hamer, in Geneseo, IL. He graduated from Atkinson High School with the class of 1949. Jim married Edley A. Taber on May 27, 1951, in Atkinson, Illinois. He was a lifetime and very active member of the Atkinson Congregational Church. Jim worked for John Deere Foundry Works in East Moline as a grinder for 30 years, retiring in 1981. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army Reserve. Jim was a member of the 32^nd degree of Stewart Masonic Lodge#92 AF&AM, where he served as Worshipful Master. Jim was also active on the Atkinson School Board and Kiwanis Club for many years. Jim was very dedicated to the Village of Atkinson and was the mayor of Atkinson for several years. He loved his family and church very much and was always helping others.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Edley; sons, Jim (Lori) Hamer, and Jon (Renee) Hamer; daughters, Janis (Lloyd) Smith, and Juli Hamer; eight grandchildren, Holly (Scott) VanOpdorp, Kate (Brock) Wyffels, Nick Hamer, Leslie (Kris) Judd, Eric (Amber) Hamer, Austin Hamer, Preston Cartwright, and Jessie Cartwright; and four great-grandchildren, Carter, Lilly, Hadley, and Sawyer.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, William and Julia, brothers, Bill, Walt, & Roy Hamer, and sisters, Wilma Seyller and Janet Gustafson.