Father Clem Hammerschmitt

FATHER CLEM HAMMERSCHMITT
Fr. Clem was born on August 25, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Clemens Hammerschmitt, Sr. and Mary Luthi Hammerschmitt. Fr. Clem attended Saint Benedict Elementary School and graduated there following the 8th grade. He then entered Quigley Prep Seminary North. After graduating from the Prep Seminary, he entered St. Mary of the Lake College division for two years. After two years he applied for entrance into St. Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, studying for the Diocese of Miami. He was ordained on May 13, 1973 at Saint Mary Cathedral in Miami. His first assignment was St. Joan of Arc in Boca Raton. After one year he was assigned to St. Francis of Assisi in Riviera Beach. After six years he was assigned to St. Anthony Parish in Ft. Lauderdale for two years. After that he was assigned to St. Mark Parish in Boynton Beach for eight years and then to St. Edward Parish in Palm Beach for three years. In 1991, Fr. Clem was appointed founding pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Lake Worth.
Fr. Clem is survived by his sister, Nancy Klauck (the late Robert), of Schaumburg, Illinois; nieces and nephew, Robert Klauck (Mary), Karen Imhof (Steve), Marilyn Keippel (Michael), Carolyn Lejman (James) and numerous grand nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 6090 Hypoluxo Road, Lake Worth, Florida. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Friday, November 10, 2023 at St. Matthew Catholic Church. Further services and burial will be held at St. Joseph's Cemetery in River Grove, Illinois.
In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to
St. Anne Place – Outreach Center, 2107 N. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach, FL 33407 or Saint Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Matthew Church, 6090 Hypoluxo Road, Lake Worth, FL 33463 in Father Clem's memory.