John was born in Sisseton, SD to William and Monica (Hannasch) Hamm on March 24, 1950. He was one of a set of twin boys. He was a member of St. Peters Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus. John attended and graduated from Sisseton High School.
John enjoyed working on the farm. He worked for Gordon D. Peterson for several years on a cattle farm west of Sisseton. He left his position there to work for his brothers-in-law, Ted and Francis Birnbaum near Hankinson, ND as a hired hand helping with the field work and the cattle operation as Ted's children were too young at the time to help. After Ted's children were old enough, John returned to Sisseton to work at Cenex where he worked for some time. From there, John returned to work for Mr. Peterson and worked there until his death. John also enjoyed bowling and shaking dice.
John was found unresponsive in his home on Monday morning, June 8, 2015. He was transported to the Sisseton Hospital and quickly air lifted to a hospital in Sioux Falls, SD where he passed away in the early morning hours of June 9, 2015. Visitation is from 4:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. on Thursday with a Prayer Service at 7:30 P.M. at Cahill Funeral Chapel, Sisseton, SD. The Funeral Mass will be on Friday June 12, 2015 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Peters Catholic Church, Sisseton, SD with Rev. Fr. Jerry Ranek officiating. Organist will be Cindy Marhol and song leader Sherman Hannasch. Interment will be at St. Peters Catholic Cemetery in Sisseton, SD. Pallbearers will include his 3 nephews, Patrick Birnbaum of Wahpeton, ND, Greg Birnbaum and his two sons, Ethan Birnbaum and Christopher Birnbaum of Bismarck, ND, Allen Birnbaum of Milaca, MN and Gordon D. Peterson of Sisseton, SD.
John was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents John and Mary Hannasch, his fraternal grandparents Otto and Mary Hamm, his step Grandfather, Ted Lenssen, parents William and Monica Hamm, two brothers Dennis and twin brother, James, along with two sisters Kathleen and Barbara (Zietlow).
He is survived by a sister, Mary Generose Birnbaum of Wahpeton, ND along with uncles, aunts, nieces, and nephews.