James Walter Hammer, age 48, of Gales Ferry, Connecticut, passed away after a long battle with cancer on Saturday, September 10, 2022. Jim was a loving husband, brother, and son. He proudly served in the US Navy as Chief Petty Officer for 21 years. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Hammer. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Amy Hammer; siblings, Barbara and Ron Stuitje, Diane and Ed Rosloniec, Helen and John Uplinger, and other siblings; parents-in-law, Michael and Anne VanDreumel; sister-in-law, Theresa VanDreumel and Marcia Montano; friends, Christian Vanlaar, Will Dumont, Elias Illescas, Robert Sims, Joey Morales, Todd Rice, Hiram Elder, Chris Watson; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 11 am Monday, September 26 at Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4646 Kalamazoo Ave SE, Kentwood, Rev. Dennis Gilbert officiating. Burial will be held at Rest Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet the family Sunday from 2-4 pm at the funeral home. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The family would like to say a special thank you to everyone that cared for him at Yale Hospital-New Haven Connecticut, especially Nurse Karen Reyes Benzi.