October 20, 1936 – June 22, 2025
‘Sally’ Sarah Hemmes was born October 20, 1936 in Hampton Iowa, and passed away Sunday, June 22, 2025 in Hampton. She was born to Walter Peterson and Berenice Purcell Peterson. Her parents owned the Windsor Theatre and she helped out there and managed it after her father passed in 1972. Sally graduated from Hampton High School and attended University of Iowa and Trinity College in San Antonia, Texas. She was a farm wife and then owned and operated The Needlewoman in Hampton until 1982. Sally then got her degree in counselling and worked in Cape Girardeau, Mo. After that career she moved to McLean, Va. to work at her sister’s store The Needlewoman East. She then retired and moved home to Hampton and enjoyed family and friends back in Iowa!
Sally loved to work with her hands and was always busy with a project , either knitting, cross stitch, needlepoint or quilting, she did it all! Some people may remember her making doll clothes or her beaded Christmas ornaments in the 1960’s. Lately she had been busy making quilted potholders and loved giving them away. She also loved playing bridge all her life, whether it was with family or her bridge groups in Hampton. She was a proud member of the Hampton United Methodist Church where she served as the children’s choir leader for many years. Sally followed in her father and Grandfathers footsteps by volunteering with the Republican party and many campaigns. She was a 4H leader, As You Like It member, elected to the school board and served on the Hampton Centennial Central Committee, to name a few.
Sally is survived by her children: Sarah (Dwight) Henning, April (Tom Kazmerzak) Hemmes, Harlan, Bubba,(Jenette) Hemmes and Heather Kestner. Grandchildren, Elizabeth (Steve) Westerman, Melissa (Zach) Martinson, Ruth Kazmerzak, Heidi Hemmes, Audrey Hemmes, Olivia Kestner. Great Grandchildren are, Thea and George Westerman, Milton and Myron Martinson, Payton and Braxton, Weston Hemmes and Sebastian. Sisters Sandra (Frank) LeClercq and Sonja (Don) Vosburg and many nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sister Sue Jennings, former husband Harlan Hemmes, Son in Law, Richard Kestner, Grandson, Ethan Kazmerzak.
Visitation will be held at Woodley Funeral Home on Thursday, June 26 from 5-7 p.m. with a celebration of life later in the year.
woodleyfuneralhome.com