JoAnne Hammel

JoAnne Hammel, 83, a life-long Mulberry resident, passed away on Friday, December 9, 2016, at St. Elizabeth East Hospital in Lafayette.

JoAnne was born June 20, 1933, in Clinton County, to Rodney and Clara Dieter Roberts.  On February 22, 1953, she married Ray “Slim” Hammel at the former Mulberry Evangelical and Reform Church; he survives in Mulberry.

She graduated from Dayton High School.  Throughout her life, JoAnne worked as a clerk at the Mulberry grocery store, at Mulberry Lutheran Home, and a cook at her brothers’ restaurants in Mulberry and Americus.  JoAnne was a long time town council member and past president of the board of the Town of Mulberry, member of the Order of the Eastern Star, and charter member of the Junior Women’s Club in Mulberry.  She and Slim loved to square dance and started the Mulberry Square Dance Club.  JoAnne loved to cook, bake, and make candy; she could make a meal out of nothing.  She loved her grandchildren and would do anything for them.  JoAnne also enjoyed antiquing, bird watching, and flower gardening.  

In addition to her husband, JoAnne is survived by her children, Deborah (Keith) Hartman, of Indianapolis, Katherine Townsley and Lori (Gary) Salmons, both of Mulberry, Steve (Janet) Hammel, of Colfax, and J.P. (Tina) Hammel, of Mulberry; two brothers, Dick (Marilyn) Roberts, Lafayette, and Jack (Jeannie) Roberts, of Mulberry; sisters, Norma Aiken, of Lafayette, and Janet (Jim) Inskeep, of Romney; nine grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.

JoAnne is preceded in death by her parents, one son, Douglas; infant daughter, Sharon; three brothers, and two sisters.

Visitation will be held on Monday, December 12, 2016, at Genda Funeral Home Mulberry Chapel from 4:00 – 7:30 p.m.  Funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at the funeral home with Pastor Scott Highlander officiating.  Burial will follow in Fair Haven Cemetery in Mulberry.  Memorials in JoAnne’s name may be made to Purdue Foundation-Cancer Research.  Online condolences may be directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.