Phillip L. Hammitt

Phillip L. Hammitt, 79, of Berne passed away on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Adams Memorial Hospital in Decatur. He was born on September 19, 1938 in Hartford City to Taylor and Sarah (Burnworth) Hammitt. Sarah later married Edmund Woodruff. He was married on October 6, 1956 in Berne to his high school sweetheart Bonnie Dague.

In 1956, he graduated with the final class from Jefferson High School, where he played basketball and ran track. He served in the U.S. Army National Guard. He was a member of the Mount Hope Church of the Nazarene in Berne. He and his wife had a passion for Work-n-Witness ministries, both local and abroad. Their excursions included ministry trips to Jamaica, the Azores, and Honduras.

He was employed by Habegger Builders and Swiss Haus of Camping for 15 years and Micro Precision for 27 years. He had a passion for farming and was known for his ability to fix anything. He enjoyed pony pulling competitions, fishing, watching Nascar racing, and spending time with family.

He is survived by his wife of Berne; daughter, Beth (Mike) Steury of Berne; three sons, Kinley (Rhea) Hammitt of Berne; Curt (Rene’) Hammitt of Corunna; and Craig (fiancée Katie Hesher) Hammitt of Indianapolis; sister, Sally (Larry) Parman of Advance; sister-in-law, Merle Hammitt of Jacksonville, Florida; 19 grandchildren, Jenna (Adam) Langston; Colton Steury; Vincent, Tracer, and Cassie Hammitt; Noah, Elly, Branson, Shiloh, Jacie, Carsten, Molly, Zayne, Grace, Davyn, Tori, and Rylan Hammitt; Eric (Laura) Hammitt; and Cieara (David) Wengerd; and five great-grandchildren, Dylan Langston; Laithon, Blaikly, and Emmitt Wengerd; and Abigail Cress.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father; and brother, David.

Visitation will be from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 12 at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne and one hour prior to the 11:00 a.m. funeral service on Saturday, January 13 at Mount Hope Church of the Nazarene in Berne. Officiating will be Pastor David Cox. Burial will be at Willard Mount Hope Cemetery.   

Memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Arrangements provided by Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home in Berne. Sign the guestbook online at www.yagerkirchhofer.com.