Washington - Karl Martin Hammer, of Richmond Beach, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of September 18, 2025, after a courageous battle with a rare form of cancer. He was 63.

Karl was born on November 9, 1961, in Seattle, Washington, to Agnar and Ruth Hammer. He spent his childhood in West Seattle before the family settled in Richmond Beach, Shoreline. He graduated from Shorewood High School and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Pacific Lutheran University.

He dedicated his professional life to the lending industry, where he was known for his integrity, leadership, and care for others. Most recently, he served as manager of the Canyon Park branch of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

His love for the sea brought him to the Pacific Northwest coast every summer, where he gillnetted salmon commercially with his father, his brother Anders, and later with his daughters. For Karl, the best times were spent with loved ones—playing ice hockey, camping on Lopez Island, attending reunions in Norway, skiing as often as he could, and bringing joy to Christmas Eve with his accordion playing. Above all, he was a devoted father who walked beside his children always—on the field, at the rink, and even on stage.

Karl was a man of deep Christian faith, which was at the heart of how he lived each day. His generous, kindhearted spirit—along with his glistening blue eyes and ever-easy smile—will be forever missed.

He is survived by his children Kristina Huckins (Matt), Brittany Hammer (Jeremy), and Kian Hammer; his brother, Anders Olin (Jeanette); and many cousins, extended family members, and friends in the United States and Norway.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the medical teams at Fred Hutch and M.D. Anderson Cancer Centers for their dedicated care, and to Evergreen Home Hospice for their compassionate support during Karl's final days.