Gary Benjamin Hammerand, 60, passed away peacefully in his home in McHenry, Illinois, on July 4, 2026.

A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, Dubuque, Iowa. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday July 18, 2026, at Sherrill Christian Community Church (formerly Sherrill United Methodist Church) in Sherrill, Iowa. Family and friends may gather at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will follow in the Sherrill United Methodist Cemetery. A continued celebration of Gary’s life will be held in the church hall.

Gary was born on November 16, 1965, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of Glenn and Mary Anna (Roloff) Hammerand. He grew up in Dubuque and graduated from Dubuque Senior High School. A dedicated student of technology, he went on to attend North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) in Mason City, Iowa, where he earned his associate degree in Electronic Technology in 1986. Following his education, he built a career utilizing his technical skills, working for various companies where he specialized in electronic assembly and product testing.

Outside of work, Gary found immense joy in the simple pleasures of life. He loved to go fishing and possessed a deep passion for cinema. An avid movie buff, Gary watched films almost every day and built an extensive personal collection over his lifetime.

Gary was also an animal lover who always had a faithful dog by his side.  His most recent companion, Molly, shared many wonderful years by his side and brought him great joy.

Above all, Gary loved his family and kept them close despite any physical distance. He was a constant presence in their lives, maintaining deep connections through hours of long phone conversations and regularly playing online word games with family members. He loved nothing more than sharing a laugh while recounting stories of his escapades growing up. Though he was a private man, he possessed a beautiful singing voice unknown to many, a gift he would sweetly share by singing to his niece over the telephone.

Gary is survived by his loving siblings: Paula Hammerand of Dubuque, lowa, Carla (Richard) Moore of Silver Springs, Florida, Fay (Richard) Delmolino of South Charleston, West Virginia, Linda Hingtgen of Platteville, Wisconsin, Elaine (Bob) Selgren of Hubert, North Carolina, Glenda (Sam) Akompong of Hampton, Virginia, and Daniel (Ramona) Hammerand of Montclair, California; 11 nephews; five nieces; 27 great-nieces and great-nephews; and one great great-niece. Over the years, he formed wonderful, close relationships and unique bonds with his nieces and nephews, leaving behind a legacy of shared laughter and cherished memories.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Glenn and Mary Anna Hammerand; as well as his nephew, Thomas McNamer Jr.