Sharon Jane (Wishard) Hammill, 73, of Platteville, WI, was reunited with her Lord and Savior and the love of her life on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. A memorial service for Sharon will be held at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on Saturday at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, 1245 N. Water St., Platteville, WI. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Sharon J. Hammill Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Sharon was born on Jan. 31, 1944, in Rockford, IL, the second child of William LaVerne and Jane Harriet (Mori) Wishard. She married Roger David Kittle (+) on Feb. 1, 1962. They had three children: Timothy (Rhonda) Kittle; Gregory (Andi) Kittle; and Matthew (Emily) Kittle. The couple divorced in March 1979.

Sharon married James L. (Jim) Hammill on Oct. 5, 1979. They made a loving life together for nearly 30 years, until December 2008, when the Lord called Jim home. They welcomed into the world James L. Hammill Jr. (Jamie Thomas) on Aug. 2, 1981.

Sharon met the love of her life, Jim, at the John Deere Dubuque Works. They proudly worked in Department 23 manufacturing undercarriage components for the Crawler line. Sharon was one of the first women to work in manufacturing in the production plant.

Sharon worked some of the hardest jobs in American manufacturing – at Amerock in Rockford, Ill,, Deere, A.Y. McDonald, also in Dubuque, and Ray-O-Vac in Fennimore, Wis., - to help make a better life for her sons. Toward the end of her working career, Sharon served in customer service at Lands' End in Dodgeville. She spent most of her Lands' End income spoiling her grandchildren.

In the early 1980s, Sharon enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she excelled in her studies. She had the hands of a factory worker, but the soul of a writer. Sharon was moved to write many incisive letters to the editor in her local and area newspapers. Her writing talents earned Platteville the Disney Hometown Parade in 1998, thanks to a winning essay.

She was a life-long champion of the little guy, particularly the “least among us.” She stood up against injustice, and she and Jim took into their hearts and home many living on the margins, in one form or another. Sharon touched countless lives with great and small acts of kindness. But, above all, she was a defender, protector and compassionate presence for children. Nothing pained her more than seeing a child suffer. She was a mother to four, a mom to many and “Grandma Sharon” to many, many more.

Sharon was a deeply faithful woman who walked her faith and understood as well as anyone the grace of Christ Jesus, and what His salvation promised and has now delivered in her new life.

She was a beautiful woman who left the world better than she found it, and she will be terribly missed.

Sharon is survived by her children; 11 grandchildren, Zachary, Bryn and Haley Kittle; April and Rachel Kittle; Leah, Kasey and Danielle Hammill; and Aidan, Maggie and Cora Kittle, special grandchildren of her heart, Josh (+) and Alysan Burgbacher and children of all ages who knew her and loved her as Grandma Sharon; brothers, Ron (Sandy) and Bill (Pat); five nephews; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her mother, father and step-mother, Cathy; her beloved husband, Jim; and her nephew, Jeff.

Sharon Hammill

January 31, 1944 - August 21, 2017

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