Mass of Christian Burial for Eugene Hammrich of Ipswich will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 20 6th Street, Ipswich, SD with Fr. Timothy Cone serving as Celebrant. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation with a Liturgical Wake Service and Rosary was held on Tuesday, August 27 at the Church. Visitation continues Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Eugene Edward Hammrich, known to most as "Gene," was born on June 14, 1937, to Frank and Marion (Tuscher) Hammrich on the farm near rural Beebe. He was second to last of 13 children. Growing up on the farm, Gene attended country schools, was known for being gifted with numbers, and graduated from the 8th grade at Holy Cross Catholic School in Ipswich. When Gene was nine years old his father passed away, following the family's move to a farm two miles west of Ipswich. He operated that farm with his brother Franklin for the rest of his life.
In 1962, Gene was drafted for training, then called into active duty in the US Army Reserve as a heavy truck driver, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He finished his service during January of 1965.
Gene met Norma Draskovic in the fall of 1962. Two years later, they were married at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Aberdeen on April 11, 1964. During their marriage of 60 years, they were blessed with four children: Marc, Cindy, Stacy, and Jackie; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Gene was an enthusiastic, outgoing man, and the life of the party. In his younger years, he was a gifted horseback rider, enjoyed boxing and waterskiing, and rode bulls at local rodeos. He is remembered as a fantastic dancer and enjoyed taking Norma on dates to dance at Craven Corner. Making others laugh was one of his joys. Gene never met a stranger and was always quick to tease and tell a joke or one of his many stories. He hosted large pheasant hunting parties at the farm and had many dear friends that returned year after year. Gene enjoyed playing card games such as Poker and Euchre and loved to meet friends at the bar or at "card parties" hosted at homes around the community to play and socialize. Quick to offer assistance to his neighbors, he often would take time to help them work cattle or make repairs.
Gene was proud of his farm and ranch. He worked hard to provide for his family and steward his land, even through the difficult 1980s. Raising cattle and small grains, he and his older brother Franklin farmed together. He enjoyed farming but was most passionate about his cattle and horses. He loved horse racing and raised Thoroughbreds that he raced in South Dakota (Pierre, Aberdeen, and Jefferson), Nebraska, Minnesota, and Canada with his close friend Pete Geditz and trainer Ken McQuay. One year, their colt that Pete raised won the South Dakota Futurity, becoming the top two-year old Thoroughbred in the state. Gene enjoyed collecting horse drawn equipment and exhibiting them in local parades, such as the Ipswich and other community Centennials, even creating western attire and growing out his beard to go along with his covered wagon. Gene attended many livestock auctions, and was always buying or selling horses, which for him was both a source of income and enjoyment. He had many friends and acquaintances in both cattle and horse production and in the Thoroughbred racing industry.
Most of all, Gene loved the people in his life, especially his family. He didn't just talk about his love. He showed it by taking care of those closest to him, whether that meant providing for his family by putting in long hours on the farm, supplying his kids with snow shovels and jumper cables, and moving them with his horse trailer when they went off to school, or brightening someone's day with a joke and a smile. He was a lifetime member of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Ipswich. He will be greatly missed.
Gene's life took a significant turn fifteen years ago, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. Although it took away his ability to do many of the things he loved, Gene didn't give up or complain, but persevered for many years with the help of Norma. With her care, he was able to stay where he was happiest, in his home on the farm.
Grateful for having shared Gene's life are his wife Norma, son Marc (Angie) Hammrich; daughter Cindy (Paul) Schreter, daughter Stacy (Brian) Sauer, and daughter Jackie (Joel) Steward; 11 grandchildren, Zachary (Sydney) Hammrich, Joshua Hammrich, Elissa Hammrich, Benjamin (fiancé Lexie Birdsall and Aaron) Schreter, Hunter Schreter, Kiana Sauer, Dylan Sauer, Cole Sauer, Christian Sauer, Julia Steward and Jessie Steward; great-granddaughter Breckyn Hammrich; sisters, Helenmae Hammrich and Marion (Gilbert) Peterson; sisters-in-law, Nancy Hammrich, Margaret Morse and Lu Draskovic; brother-in-law, Ivan (Dorothy) Draskovic; numerous nieces and nephews, and many other relatives and friends.
Gene is preceded in death by his parents Frank and Marion Hammrich, ten siblings and their spouses: Ernest (Pauline) Hammrich, Vernon Hammrich, Caroline (John) Armstrong, Florence Hammrich, Dorothy (Leonard) Gisi, Martin Hammrich, Sally (Johnny) Heilman, Rita (Elton) Herman, Franklin Hammrich; infant sister Dorothy Hammrich; granddaughter Mariah Sauer; father-in-law and mother-in-law John and Pauline Draskovic; brother-in-law Kenneth Draskovic, and several nieces and nephews..
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Parkinson's Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018.
Schriver Funeral Home of Ipswich is entrusted with the arrangements.
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