Samuel Walker Hammond Jr.'s Obituary
Samuel Walker Hammond Jr., known affectionately as “Pink,” passed to his Heavenly home on January 14, 2026. Born January 30, 1938, to Samuel W. and Vivian (Alyea) Hammond, he was a devoted and loving husband to Lynne; father to surviving daughters, Jacqueline (Bill) Kooi, Dana (Rick) Railsback, and Angelique (Brian) Oaks; dearly loved by six grandchildren; six great‑grandchildren; sister, Charlene Swanson; brother, Dale (Judy) Hammond; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three children; Rhonda Ann Hammond, Kimberly Kay Hammond, and Samuel Walker Hammond III; his parents; and two brothers, Cecil and Harvey Hammond.
After graduating high school, Sam served in the National Guard and enlisted in the United States Air Force, later attending Grand Rapids Baptist College. He went on to serve as head of Building & Zoning in Allendale, as Spring Lake Township Supervisor, and finished his career as Plant Manager at Mol Belting, spending his life serving others and his community.
Deeply rooted in his Christian faith in Jesus Christ, Sam said grace before every meal and was faithful in attending church each Sunday. What meant even more, though, was how that faith permeated every part of his life; through hardship, loss, illness, and the ordinary days in between, his trust in God never wavered, and watching him walk in that faith was inspirational to all who knew him.
Sam was always a friendly face; he loved a good gathering and had a way of drawing people in. If he wasn’t in the center of the crowd, he could be found somewhere playing games with the kids or sparking joy in any room. Even in traffic, perhaps his one true weakness, his good nature showed through; he might grumble about the cars, but he was still the one waving you in to merge. His bright blue, empathetic eyes revealed a heart full of joy, pride, and compassion.
Pericles once said, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” And that’s exactly what Sam did. He didn’t leave us, entirely, but lives on in those who were fortunate enough to have know him.
VISITATION with Sam’s family will be held from 1-3 PM Sunday, January 18, 2026 at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St., Norton Shores, MI 49444. A CELEBRATION OF HIS LIFE will be held 11:00 AM Monday, January 19, 2026 at Nortonville Gospel Chapel, 14528 Leonard Road, Spring Lake, MI 49456. Burial will be in Spring Lake Cemetery. MEMORIALS in memory of Sam may be directed to the Missions Fund at Nortonville Chapel. You may sign his online guestbook at https://www.sytsemafh.com
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