ANN ELIZABETH (STOW) HAMMER 

Ann Elizabeth (Stow) Hammer, 72, formerly of Canton, Mo., died at Klein Center in West Burlington, Ia., July 21, 2023. Ann was born on July 22, 1950 to Betty and Bob Stow.

She attended Canton High School and went on to earn her teaching degree from Culver-Stockton College. Ann taught elementary school before going on to finish her Master’s degree in Education at Northeast Missouri State (now Truman State University) and becoming elementary principal at Canton R-V.

She was born an administrator and a natural leader and being in charge was where she was meant to be, so this opportunity was a perfect fit. In 1991, her administrative ability was on full display as she was honored as Missouri’s National Distinguished Principal in Washington DC. After serving for many years at Canton R-V Schools she earned her Specialist Degree in Education from Southwest Missouri State (now Missouri State University) and took on an entirely new administrative role as Superintendent of Wellsville Schools in Wellsville, Mo. After retiring from Wellsville Schools she looked forward to time spent away from a school building however, being the kind of woman who had trouble sitting still she quickly found her way back to her alma mater and began to pass on her love of teaching to education students at Culver- Stockton College.

While Ann loved her time as an administrator in schools she also loved her time at home with her husband, Lee Hammer and daughter, Elizabeth (Hammer) Yonker. They can attest that she honed her administrative skills at home with them. She was generous in all things and influenced and shaped the lives of countless numbers of students. She loved plants and flowers, and especially loved telling Lee where to plant them. She was a great cook and wonderful baker. She was famous for her chocolate chip cookies and her mac and cheese grilled cheese sandwiches she would make for her grandchildren, Sam and Emmy, and only watched TV with the sound off. She was funny and smart, loving and kind, and a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother.

She was loved so much and will be missed.

Ann is survived by her husband Lee and daughter Elizabeth (David) Yonker, both of West Burlington, Ia.; grandchildren, Samuel and Emmy Yonker; her siblings, Nancy (Jim) Miluski of Columbia, Mo., Joe (Carol) Stow of Jefferson City, Mo., and sister-in-law Mary Stow of Canton, Mo.; several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert E. and Betty Stow, and brother, Robert W. Stow.

Services and celebration of her life will be held Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Davis Funeral Home in Canton, Mo., with Rev. Brooke Anthony officiating.
Burial will be in Forest Grove Cemetery, Canton, Mo. Visitation will be held Wednesday morning from 9:00 a.m. until time of services in the funeral home.

Pallbearers: Bobby Stow, Jonathan Stow, Ben Stow, Blake Butler, Matt Parker and Adam Bevans. Music will be provided by Karla McReynolds, Organist

The family suggests memorials be made to the Student Scholarship Fund at Culver Stockton College or to First Christian Church of Burlington, Ia.