Sherry Hamann

Sherry Hamann, 83, of Quincy IL, passed away peacefully on February 13th in the presence of her family.

Sherry was born on July 28, 1942 to Rosalie and Norbert Ludwig. She was born on her Mothers birthday. Her parents divorced when she was a child and Rosalie remarried shortly afterwards to Clarence Meyer. On May 12th, 1950 at the age of 6 Clarence Meyer formally adopted Sherry and her brother Richard. She was preceded in death her parents, her sister Mary Rose Lenane (Puzzie), her Sister Masje Ogden, and older brother Norbert Ludwig Jr. She is survived by her children Robert Bradley Hamann (Faye) and Christine Hamann, as well as her brother Richard Meyer (Sandy). Her grandchildren Kimberley Martinez (Rene), Steven Hamann, and Jayda Hamann. Her great grandchildren. Nano Martinez, Kylah Martinez, Celeste Martinez and Ketzy Martinez. And her Great Great Grandchild: Rome Lewis (son of Celeste and Aaron).

Throughout her childhood, Sherry lived in many different places including St Louis, and Coatsburg before finally settling in Quincy IL where she remained for the remainder of her life. After graduating from High School in 1960, Sherry became a registered Cosmetologist. While not working at a beauty salon, she did cut and style the hair of friends and family throughout her life.

ON August 8th, 1962 , Sherry was married to Edward Whitfield Hamann (Whit) . They later divorced and her two children Robert Bradley (Brad) and Christine remained with their Mother.

As a single Mother, Sherry provided for her family by working as a Teachers Aide at Lincoln Elementary School for many years working with 5th and 6th grade children. She was loved by all of the chidren she worked with and would often create the bulletin boards for the grades as well as supervising recess. Sherry also taught the children in her classrooms to write their letters backwards. The kids enjoyed this fun task and the kids would rush back and forth to the mirrors to check their progress. Throughout her life, she continued to use this technique with her children and grandchildren when sending them cards for their birthdays.

When the school system required their staff to complete additional education, Sherry chose to study automotive mechanics. While probably not quite what the school system had in mind, Sherry enjoyed learning about the inner working of engines and was proud that she was able to work on the various cars that she had throughout her life. She also studied Judo attaining the rank of a Green Belt. After leaving Lincoln School, Sherry worked for a short time at the Quincy Senior High School in the Audio Visual department, and then began working again as a Teacher Aide in the BASE program and worked with troubled teens. She again brought her special kindness and creativity to the classroom. She would often have the entire school in a tizzy when she would ask the kids questions such as "Do Dogs have Lips" and would then sit back and watch them think and debate the question. Very often the teachers would have to intervein and contact specialist to find the answers. After retiring from the school system, Sherry began working at Havetronics, an electronic firm where she built motherboards for various systems. This led her to her interest in Computers and to building her own computer.

Throughout her time at BASE and Havetronics, Sherry also owned and managed an Apartment building. There was not much she could not do as far as maintenance on the building. She was able to paint, put up wallpaper, build sheds, side garages, repair windowsills, and care for the lawn. Her abilities to care and maintain buildings matched her ability to care and nurture minds.

Sherry loved animals and rescued many throughout the years. As a young parent she rescued a dog who had a heart defect and traveled to Columbia to the Veterinary Hospital for emergency surgery. She always had an animal in the house. She had both dogs and cats as well as parakeets, hamsters and sugar gliders. She loved the animals who lived outside the house as well and insisted on caring from them. We would put out food for the birds and squirrels. She also had raccoons, possums, a groundhog, and chipmunk colony that she cared for.

Throughout her life, Sherry enjoyed reading books and reading. She didn't have one particular genre and would read fantasy, romance, Syfy, old west, mysteries and spy novels among others. She enjoyed art and would paint along with Bob Ross as he painted on TV. Many family members have treasured paintings that she made throughout her life. She enjoyed games and puzzles and would play often on her computer. She also enjoyed music, would sing and play unusual songs that she remembered from when she was young and that she found on the computer. She would sing these songs to her family as well as the nurses in the hospital. It made everyone smile and brightened their day.

I would like to offer our family and friends to share any stories that they feel best shows how Sherry has touched their lives and what has made their relationship special.

Christine Hamann:
My Mother was one of the strongest people that I have ever known. She has been my greatest cheerleader and has helped me in all of the activities that I have done throughout my life. She was always smiling and I only remember her losing her temper when someone criticized me unjustly. She was my best friend as well as my Mother. I remember that after having her double mastectomy and was still in the hospital two ladies came in to show her the "falsies" that would help women feel and look "normal" after their surgery. Mom looked them straight in the eyes and said "Take those away! I've been looking forward to not having to wear a bra for over 20 years." At that moment I felt that if I ever suffered the same malady and was able to accept it with half as much strength and grace as she did that, I knew I would be fine.

There are so many other stories I could tell about my Mother, but this one moment stands out in my mind as showing her strength and courage.

Robert "Brad" Hamann:
Stories about my mother are numerous, some humorous and others serious. What I recall most was her guidance and support for whatever I wanted to do. What some might think went too far in today's parenting norms was when I wanted to earn money by cutting grass around the neighborhood friend. I was encouraged but mom required me to purchase my own equipment (lawn mower, gas, etc.). This lesson shaped my philosophy without knowing it was a lesson. Mom was very good a life lessons without knowing that she was molding my future.

Another was when I entered the section of Lincoln school where she worked. I was told that the other students would test me to see if I would run to, she told that under no circumstance was I to come to her for support. This guidance proved invaluable as I was tested, but when I didn't run to her it stopped as fast as it started.

Life is tough but my mother provided me with the tools to survive and thrive, I'm the man I am today because of her.

Kimberley Martinez
Due to the fact that I never lived close to my grandmother, all I have are little memories of her. I remember her always being fun to be around, always making me laugh and feel loved and seen. There were times when I had to call her to help me with English, which was a lot because English was a foreign language to me, especially with all the rules for diagramming the sentences. But no matter what questions I asked repeatedly, or how long it took me to understand, she was always patient with me. When I started reaching out to her to get to know her, I noticed she didn't say "I love you" very much, even though she showed it. Everytime I would call her, I would always tell her I loved her before she got off the phone, and made her say it to me back. At first it seemed like she struggled using those words but as the time went by, she even started to say it first. She always listened if I had a problem and always gave me any advice she had, even if it was telling me something I didn't want to hear. Several people tell me that I am a lot like her and I can only hope that I will be half of the woman she was.

Tim Lenane
When I first got married Deb and I moved into a house that was just over a block away from Sherry. I remember that I painted her house for her.