Earl J. Wammes

Earl J. Wammes, 88, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and uncle, passed away peacefully at home in Fremont, Ohio on September 10, 2025. Earl, and his twin brother and best friend Merle, were born on April 11, 1937, at the Wammes Family Farm in Fremont to Carl and Florence (Klein) Wammes. He attended St. Joseph and Fremont Ross High Schools, graduating from Fremont Ross in 1955, and received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Bowling Green State University in 1962.

Earl married Karen Halbisen of Clyde, OH on July 21, 1962, and together they had five children. Earl’s career began in 1962 at the Boeing Aerospace Division in Seattle, WA, followed by a transfer to the Saturn V Booster Branch in Huntsville, AL. In 1965, he returned to Ohio to continue his career with a division of General Motors in Elyria. After transferring to Michigan in 1987, he retired from GM in 1992. Earl accrued innumerable accolades and accomplishments throughout his career. He served on the Elyria Board of Health from 1969 to 1982, and he was elected to three terms of the Elyria City Schools Board of Education, serving from 1979 to 1987. In 1977 Earl received the Holy Name “Man of the Year” award for Lorain County, and in 1978 the GM Award of Excellence in Community Activities.

After retiring, Earl and Karen returned to Fremont in 1992, and in 1996 purchased the Wammes Family Farm to carry on the family legacy established in 1873. In his retirement, Earl enjoyed working on the farm and volunteering with Karen. He served as a director, president, and volunteer at Sandusky County Historical Society, was a member of the Hayes Center’s Kin Hunters, and served on the Sandusky County Fair Board. In 2019, Earl and Karen were named Sandusky County Republican of the Year. Earl was a roller coaster enthusiast, riding coasters at Cedar Point into his 80’s and taking his last ride on his favorite coaster, Top Thrill 2 in 2024. Most importantly, Earl was a proud member of St. Joseph Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, the 150th Celebration Coordinator, Chairman of the History Book Committee, and over the years, made hundreds of rosaries for various ministries.

Earl is survived by his wife of 63 years Karen, his five children, Tamara (Donald) Harnegie of Westlake, OH; Timothy (Kelli) Wammes of Amherst, OH; Tonya (Paul) Condry of Mishawaka, IN; Ted (TC Whysall) Wammes of Charlottesville, VA; and Tod (Lori) Wammes of Akron, OH; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth Hooser and Kimberly Hooser (Tyler Matthews) both of South Bend, IN; Taylor (Gregory) Poprock of Lagrange, OH; Joseph Harnegie of Westlake, OH; Jacqueline Wammes of Akron, OH; Ashley Wammes of Lorain, OH; Meredith Wammes of Indianapolis, IN; and Natalie (Michael) Hercules of Akron, OH; four great-grandchildren; his sister Ruth Hill of Fremont; many nieces and nephews; and his loving cat, Buddy. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings, Paul (Madalyn) Wammes; Bernard Wammes; Marie (Gilbert) Wagner; Margaret (Russell) Spanfellner (Teddie) Gearheart; Carl, Jr. (Pearl) Wammes; Edith (Floyd) Overmyer; and Merle (Billie) Wammes, and brother-in-law Rodney Hill.

Visitation will be held on Monday, September 15 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Herman-Karlovetz Funeral Home, 900 North St. Fremont, OH 43420. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 16, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 709 Croghan St, Fremont, followed by burial at St. Joseph Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank the many staff of Heartland Hospice, and April Reisner, for their love and compassion in helping to care for Earl during these last several months. Earl lived fully, loved deeply, and left an indelible mark on those who knew him. His legacy lives on in the strong family foundation he and Karen built, and most importantly, in the hearts of those who are blessed to call him husband, father, grand and great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Memorial donations may be made in Earl’s name to St. Joseph Church or Heartland Hospice of Fremont.