Ralph Joseph "Joe" Hammond

Ralph Joseph "Joe" Hammond, 76, of rural Macomb, IL, passed away on Friday, May 30th, 2025. He is survived by his loving wife Norrita (Woolridge) Hammond; children Alisa Hammond (Kyle Whiteside) of Roseville, IL, Bradley Hammond (Kristine Wright) of Arlington Heights, IL, Ross Hammond (Kate Kaminski) of Sheboygan, WI, and Sara Hammond (Jane Garvin) of Austin, TX; grandchildren Jade, Addison, Logan, Olivia, and Amelia; and a large, loving extended family. Joe was born May 17, 1949 in Macomb, IL, the youngest of three children of Willard "Chris" and Helen (Bollack) Hammond, loving parents from whom Joe learned to cherish family above all else. He attended Macomb High School and developed a passion for the Future Farmers of America organization, providing student leadership before graduating in 1967. Joe was a caring brother to sister Carol Marie Potter (deceased) and brother James Hammond (Carol) of Surprise, AZ. Joe attended Western Illinois University where he founded the local chapter of the Alpha Gamma Sigma fraternity. He went on to graduate in 1971 with a degree in Vocational Agricultural Education. Joe taught Vocational Agriculture Science at five schools in Iowa and Illinois. His passion for agriculture and education extended beyond the normal school day, as he started up the Tri-County Young Farmers while teaching at VIT High School (South Fulton), allowing students to travel to Omaha, NE, offering them real-world hands-on experiences. Known by many for his kind and gentle demeanor, Joe was an advocate for all young people who were eager to learn and grow. Agriculture ran deep in his veins, and he farmed in rural Adair, IL, on his family's land for 21 years. He loved his herd of registered Shorthorn cattle and teaching his children to love and care for all animals and for the land. As a result, his children showed cattle at countless 4-H fairs in West Central Illinois, including the Illinois State Fair, and at the North American International Livestock Exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky. After his farming chapter came to a close, Joe and Norrita relocated closer to Macomb, making it a loving home for their family. Joe enjoyed birding out on the back patio, and making friends with the neighborhood kitties who would find him for pets. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Macomb. The epitome of a proud father and grandfather, Joe was thrilled by his children's and grandchildren's accomplishments. He adored attending his grandchildren's sports games, theatre productions, and dance events, cheering from the sidelines. The Hammond family would like to thank the amazing healthcare workers who supported Joe during times of illness, especially the staff of The Elms nursing home. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30 a.m., June 21st, 2025, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Macomb, with Pastor Youngshim Pitcher officiating. A visitation will precede the Celebration of Life starting at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Memorials may be made to the Macomb School District Vocational Agricultural Department, Trinity Lutheran Church, or the charity of the donor's choice. Clugston-Tibbitts Funeral Home in Macomb is in charge of arrangements. You may leave condolences and sign the guest book online at clugston-tibbitts.com. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ralph Joseph "Joe" Hammond, please visit our floral store.