Obituary: Alvin Hammer

“One of a kind… the world lost its best man…” That is how Alvin T. Hammer is remembered after his mother and sister welcomed him into heaven on Saturday, December 13th. He was born April 6, 1974, son of Francis Hammer and the late Cheryl (Blanck) Hammer. Following his graduation from Brillion High School, Alvin earned an electric degree with honors, then an accounting degree with honors, at Northwestern Technical College - Green Bay, and even continued his education with classes at Marian University in Fond du Lac. 

The love of Alvin’s life was Lisa A. Reichenberger. They met purely by chance when she became involved in square dancing. The pair stayed in touch and spent some time together away from the square dancing events. Eventually they formed a true love connection based on honest conversations and bonding over similar life experiences.

Alvin had a passion for genealogy which was apparent through his support and memberships in the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society, Winnebagoland Genealogical Society, Milwaukee County Genealogical Society Inc., Marshfield Area Genealogy Group,  Heart O’ Wisconsin Genealogical Society,  Germanic Genealogy Society,  Fond du Lac County Genealogical Society,  Bay Area Genealogical Society, Sacramento German Genealogy Society, and the Manitowoc County Genealogical Society. 

Alvin’s love for the arts extended through his membership in the N.E.W. Friends of Music, Inc., memberships at The Paine Art Center and Gardens, The Newberry Library of Chicago, and a season ticket holder of the Green Bay Community Theater. His love of history showed through his memberships in the Wisconsin Historical Society, Calumet County Historical Society, Malone Area Heritage Museum, Nicolet County Historical Society, Wisconsin Historical Foundation, German Interest Group-Wisconsin, and the Minnesota Historical Society. 

Alvin loved square dancing, serving as secretary with the Green Bay Squares and the Fox Valley Squares (FVS), and was currently the FVS club treasurer.  He also created and was the administrator of an email service to notify square dancers of upcoming events.  In his free time, Alvin enjoyed watching major/minor league baseball and women’s basketball. He was a member of the Bay Beach Friends of the Wildlife Sanctuary and the Green Bay Botanical Gardens, but closest to his heart was the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay Phoenix Women’s Basketball Team, as a season ticket holder for many years and sponsored their annual golf outing. Each year he supported the Salvation Army including sponsoring meals every Thanksgiving.

Alvin was a soft-spoken man, preferring to observe and listen rather than chime in. He was a kind, compassionate man with a good sense of humor. The world will not be the same without him because he affected so many people’s lives, whether it was through his work as the accountant for the family’s Orange Blossom Jewelers, or more recently as a United States Postal Service Clerk at the Hilbert office.

Alvin is survived by the love of his life, Lisa A. Reichenberger; his father: Francis Hammer; aunts and uncles: Irene Mayer, Mary Kay Stokes, John Hammer, Kevin (Kay) Blanck, Barb Blanck; and many cousins.

Alvin was preceded in death by his mother, Cheryl; sister: Christine Hammer; grandparents: Hazel and Robert Blanck and Arthur and Bernetta Hammer; uncles: Chuck (Nancy) Blanck, Bob Blanck, Jr., and Dale Blanck.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Holy Family Catholic Church (1100 W. Ryan St.) in Brillion. Friends may call from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Friday, January 2, 2026, at the Wieting Family Funeral Home (411 W. Main St.) in Chilton, and from 10:00 am until 10:45 am on Saturday, January 3, at Holy Family Catholic Church. Alvin will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery (1901 Algoma Blvd.) in Oshkosh on Saturday, January 3, at 1:30 pm.