Burnita Hammes

SIGOURNEY-Burnita Hammes, age 95, of Sigourney, died Sunday, March 24, 2019, at Solon Assisted Living.
Burnita was born September 22, 1923, in Harper, to John and Anne (Heininger) Besser. She graduated from St. Elizabeth High School and received her R.N. at St. Francis Nursing School in Bloomington, Illinois. Burnita served in the U.S. Army as a nurse during World War II. On May 5, 1947, she married Omer J. Hammes at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Harper. Burnita was a nurse at the Keokuk County Health Center in Sigourney for many years. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, the Altar and Rosary Society and the Hospital Auxiliary. Burnita enjoyed gardening, baseball, playing cards, fishing and dancing.
Survivors include two children: Annette (John) Stemmler of Pretty Lake, Indiana and Tim (Rita) Hammes of Iowa City; four grandchildren: Tanya Hammes of Iowa City, Zach (Emily) Hammes of North Liberty, Matt (Brittany) Stemmler of Athens, Georgia and Elizabeth (Roniel) Benitez of Ft. Myers, Florida and five great grandchildren: Isaac and Isabelle Hammes, Steybi and Tristen Benitez and Finley Stemmler. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; three brothers: Norbert, Melvin and Jerome Besser and two sisters: Neoma Huber and Elizabeth Hammes.

Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 28, 2019, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sigourney, with Rev. Charles Fladung officiating. Burial will be at Holy Trinity Cemeteries - St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Harper. Visitation will be from 9:30 pam. until 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at the church.

A memorial fund has been established for the Keokuk County Health Center Auxiliary. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Sigourney is caring for Burnita and her family. Tributes may be made at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.