Julie E. Hammen, age 70, passed away at her home with her husband at her side on June 21, 2026, after a courageous battle against breast cancer. She was born on September 23, 1955, daughter of the late Earl “Butch” and Jean Swick in Appleton. Julie graduated from Appleton East High School in 1973. She had three children: Christy, Carrie and Andy. In 1992 she graduated with honors and earned her Associate Degree in Nursing from Fox Valley Technical College. In 2010 Julie earned her Bachelor of Nursing Degree from Marion University. She worked as an RN for her entire career, retiring from community nursing with Outagamie Housing Authority, which she found very fulfilling.

Julie met her soulmate Don Hammen and they wed in 1996 and blended their families to include Dana and Craig. They enjoyed just shy of 30 years of marriage together. They spent their time traveling, becoming grandparents, and visiting family and friend’s cottages. They fulfilled a lifelong dream and became owners of their own lakefront happy place on Pelican Lake.  Julie and Don hosted many family and friends and made countless wonderful memories at the cottage. They enjoyed the lake community and neighbors. You could often find them out on the lake fishing.

Julie loved tending to her beautiful garden, playing cards, puzzles, enjoying nature, journaling and she was an avid reader. She was also an active member of First United Methodist Church in Appleton, where she participated in Women’s Bible Study and led an annual women’s retreat, both of those groups enriched her life dearly.   

Julie is survived by her husband and best friend, Don Hammen; children: Christy (Todd) Euclide, Dana Hammen, Carrie (Dan) Miller, Craig (Amanda) Hammen and Andy (Lacey) Rochon; grandchildren: Katelyn, Emily, Ella, Phoenix, McKenzie, Duke, Lily, Drake, Ava, Emma and Lilah; siblings: Terry VanderWielen, Ken (Jackie) Swick, Connie (Steve) Towlerton and Karen (John) Stevens; in-laws: Joan (Scott) Fenn, Greg (Laurie) Hammen, Keith (Deb) Hammen and Kathy (Joe) Lamers; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many dear friends.

Julie was preceded in death by her parents, Butch and Jean Swick; grandson, Eugene; father and mother-in-law, Bob and Janice Hammen.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at the Verkuilen-Van Deurzen Family Funeral Home, 2401 Fieldcrest Drive, Kaukauna, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday, June 29, 2026, at First United Methodist Church, 325 E. Franklin Street, Appleton, from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 4:00 p.m. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Kaukauna.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the ThedaCare Cancer Center, especially Dr. Shannon Schmidt and her team, for all of the compassionate care given to Julie.