Dean L. Hammer

Dean L Hammer left this life at the age of 94 on December 22, 2025. The son of Earl Hammer and Erma Sennie Ward Hammer, Dean was born March 10, 1931. He grew up in the Caldwell area of Idaho and loved playing baseball. He was a hard worker and very talented. He told a story about not liking school in the 3rd grade and skipped a large portion of school that year. Because of this, he ended up repeating the grade and vowed he would never make that error again. He applied himself to his studies and went on to earn a Bachelor's degree and several Master's degrees.

Dean served in the United States Coast Guard during the Korean war and on a trip to Ogden, Utah met Julia “Julie” VanDeGraaf. Theirs was a whirlwind courtship, and they were married two dates later. They moved to the San Francisco area of California where Dean finished his tour with the Coast Guard.

They returned to Utah where they stayed with Julie’s parents while Dean worked and drove to Logan to attend college at Utah State University. During this time, they welcomed their first child, Bruce D. Hammer and then a daughter Laura Hammer (Altig) and by the time Bruce was in kindergarten their last child entered the family, Julieann Hammer (Hendrickson)

Dean was proud to be a teacher for 34 years. He excelled at woodworking and cabinet making and taught these crafts with an eye towards excellence. The family moved several times, living in Moab and California and Moab again. Dean built several homes and the family enjoyed rockhounding, hunting and camping. The La Sal Mountains were one of their favorite places. Dean enjoyed reading and especially liked books by Louis L’Amour. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Dean and Julie divorced about 1972 and remarried later in life. In 2018 they built a home in Manti, Utah, where Dean remained until his death. Dean was preceded in death by his parents, his wife (Julie) and his son and daughter (Bruce and Laura). He was the last surviving of his siblings and was very ready to have a reunion with all of them. In his own words, “The Gospel tells us that death is not the end – it is the new beginning of eternal life.”

He leaves a posterity of many grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved them all and was loved in return. His was a life well-lived, and he will be missed by those who knew and loved him.

There will be a graveside service January 3, 2026, at the Manti Cemetery.