Memorial

Herbert “Herb” L. Hammerberg, 87, of Cedar Rapids passed away on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital.  Memorial service will be held on Monday, August 10, 2015 at 11 AM, with a visitation beginning an hour prior, at Westminster Presbyterian Church with Rev. Heather Hayes officiating.  Inurnment will be held at 3:30 PM at Oakwood Cemetery in Ackley, Iowa.

Herb Hammerberg was born on August 17, 1927, in Crystal Falls, Michigan to Herbert and Ellen Erickson Hammerberg.  He graduated from East High School in Waterloo, Iowa, and served two years as a corpsman in the U.S. Navy during World War II.  Herb graduated from the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.  He married Carmen Hills in Moline, Illinois on December 27, 1950.  Herb owned and operated a pharmacy in Ackley for 27 years.  He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he served on the building committee, and of the Ackley Rotary Club.  While in Ackley, he served three terms on the city council and two terms as mayor and was a member of the Hardin County Landfill Commission. 

Herb and Carmen moved to Cedar Rapids in 1997 and were active members of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

He is survived by his wife, Carmen; four sons, Curt (Donna) of Belle Plaine, MN; Rick (Laurie) of Highland Village, TX; and Ron (Linda) and Bob (Lauren) both of Cedar Rapids; 7 grandchildren, Bailey (Andy Tiedt), Bennet, Donovan, Kacey, Luke, Max and Nate; 2 great grandchildren, Grayson and Rylan; and his sweet kitty, Hawkeye.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother.

Herb was a huge fan of the Cubs and the Iowa Hawkeyes and his grandsons’ baseball teams and enjoyed travel, reading and playing bridge.  He especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s many activities.

He will be forever remembered as a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather and friend to many.

A special thank you to the doctors, nurses, and support staff at Hiawatha Care Center, St. Luke’s Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospice for their care of Herb.

Memorial donations may be directed to the Community Health Free Clinic and St. Luke’s Hospice.