Rene’ A. Hammond, age 56,
of New Knoxville, died on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 9:51 A.M. at her residence after a tough-fought battle with illness. She was born on April 3, 1966 in Spokane, Washington, the daughter of the late Robert Rempe and Kaye “Kaci” (Topp) Anderson who survives in Celina with her husband Robin. Also surviving are her husband Ed Heuker, Jr. of New Knoxville; her children: Jesse (Elizabeth) Hammond of Bellefontaine, Casey (fiancée Kat Kimmel) Hammond of St. Marys, Carla (Jesse Vagedes) Thobe of Coldwater; her step-children: Christa (Mark) Craft of Amherst, Jeremy (Rachel) Heuker of Kettering; her “third son” Josh Borges, her fourteen grandsons, six step-grandchildren, and one precious great-granddaughter; a brother Kenneth (Diane) Rempe of St. Henry, a sister Jayne Ruwoldt of Lima, and six half-siblings in Florida; and her grandmother Emily Jane (Lininger) Pickering of St. Marys. Along with her parents, Rene’ was preceded in death by her grandfather Kenneth Topp.
Rene’ was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen. She had attended Celina High School before starting her family. Through the years, she had worked in the kitchen and as a server at the former Fireside Pub in New Bremen, and also for many years in the deli at the former Howell’s IGA in New Bremen. Most recently she had been a babysitter at her home. She and Ed also worked for 28 years at the Country Concert where she was able to meet numerous artists over the years. Rene’ was a devoted Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Browns, and NASCAR fan. She was skilled at playing darts and traveled to many competitions, and also loved to go Big Foot hunting, and gem mining. Having a servant heart, Rene’ would do anything to help someone in need, which led to many kids calling her “mom.”
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 beginning at 10:30 A.M. at St. Paul United Church of Christ in New Bremen, with Rev. Becky Erb Strang officiating. Private family inurnment will take place at a later date. Calling hours will be held on Monday, December 5, 2022 from 3:00 until 7:00 P.M. at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen, and one hour prior to the services on Tuesday at the church. Memorial contributions in Rene’s memory can be made to Cancer Association of Auglaize Co., St. Paul U.C.C. or be made to the funeral home to aide with final expenses. Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen is assisting the family with arrangements, and condolences to the family can be left on the funeral home website at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.