Loving husband, father and grandfather, Dr. Arild Rudolph Hammer, 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Swedish Medical Center on 2/15/2019. Born in Seattle, WA on August 18,1930 to his parents Norman Arild Hammer and Anna Sophia Nordblad. He lived in Seattle until 1935. The family then took a steamship to Ketchikan, Alaska to pursue a livelihood in the commercial fishing industry. Arild fished with his father during the summer for many years. Arild graduated from Kayhi High School in Ketchikan Alaska in 1948. Shortly after graduation, he joined the United States Coast Guard and served his country on the sea that he so dearly loved. He attended college at Pepperdine University in California and was accepted into dental school at the University of Washington in Seattle where he graduated with a his Doctor of Dental Sciences in 1959. He continued his DDS education for many years attending study clubs with his former classmates under Peter K. Thomas. He practised dentistry in Seattle, WA until his retirement in 2012 minus the 7 year sabbatical he took when he went back to commercial fishing out of Sitka, AK from 1978-1985. He was the captain of the "F/V Don A." and then the "F/V Infinity", fishing for the wild king salmon he so dearly loved as a child. His mid-life occupation change got him an article in and a picture on the cover of "Money" magazine related to professional men that change occupations mid career. Arild was also an active Rotarian at the Rotary Club of Ballard from the early 1960's.
Preceded in death by his sister Angie Bunde of Anchorage, AK, his first wife, Nancy Hammer of Seattle, WA and his step son Bart Clifford.
Arild is survived by his loving wife Ilonna Hammer of Seattle, WA and children; Arne Hammer of Seattle, WA., Kirsten Hammer of Bellingham, WA, Kaare Hammer of Westport, WA., Heidi Hammer of Langley, WA.and Candy Stratford-Shipley from Spokane, WA. Grandchildren includes Anna Hammer/Lafferty of Bellingham, WA., Grace Hammer of Seattle, WA. and Adelind Liggit of Langley, WA. Step daughters Coleen Lavery of Des Moines, WA and Kendyall St. John of Bountiful, UT.
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