Thomas M. Hammen, Little Chute, age 82, died Thursday, February 8, 2024.  He was born in Little Chute on April 13, 1941 to the late Ernest and Eunice (Hartjes) Hammen.  Shortly after graduating high school, Tom and a friend bought a car and set off to see the country.  They eventually ended up in California but ran out of money.  They sold the car and briefly became encyclopedia salesmen.  It didn't take long before they decided to join the U.S. Army.  While stationed overseas, he met and married Claudette Mauricette Poupard on December 1, 1962 in Poiters, France.  Shortly after their return to Little Chute, Tom began his career in law enforcement.  He started with the Outagamie County Highway Police until they merged with the Outagamie County Sheriff Department in 1966.  He was a deputy at the sheriff's department for a handful of years before getting hired by the Little Chute Police Department.  It is there in his hometown where he served for twenty-four years, building a reputation as both a professional and compassionate police officer.  Tom rose through the ranks, retiring as deputy chief of the Little Chute PD before the merger with Fox Valley Metro Police Department.

Tom and his twin brother Jerry were the oldest of 75 first cousins.  Much of his life was filled with all the family events and get-togethers that come along with being in such a huge, close family.  Tom loved fishing, especially his trips to Canada with his family.  Tom got enjoyment from gadgets and building models.   He also enjoyed the simple pleasure of watching movies with his favorite snacks.  In his younger years, he often helped friends and family with their home improvement projects.  He was a member of St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church and the Jacob Coppus American Legion Post 258.

Tom is survived by his sons:  Michael (Kimberly) of Little Chute; Christopher (Karla) of Appleton; and Eric (Tamara) of Virginia Beach; grandchildren:  Seth, Jonah (Hazel), Esther, Mitchell, Kyle, Pierce (Patty), Maddie Grace, Reed, and Jude Mark Hammen; great-grandchild Sebastian; siblings:  Jerry (Kathy) Hammen, Ann (Jim) Vander Sanden, Ellen (Mike) Hooyman, Mary (Dan) Romenesko, and Ron (Lynn) Hammen; and brothers and sisters-in-law:  Bill Conrad, Michelle Pytlak, Daniele (Daniel) Humbert, Dominique (Bridgette) Poupard, and Philippe (Isabelle) Poupard.  He is further survived by many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Claudette, on August 19, 2022; brother Doug Hammen and his wife Linda, sister Kathy Conrad; father and mother-in-law, Maurice and Odette (LaFond) Poupard; and brothers-in-law, Jerry Pytlak,  Jean Claude Poupard and his wife Daniele.

Visitation will be held Monday, February 19, 2024 at ST. JOHN NEPOMUCENE CATHOLIC CHURCH (411 Vandenbroek Street, Little Chute) beginning at 1:00 p.m. until time of Mass at 3:00 p.m. with the Rev. Ronald Belitz officiating.  Military honors, conducted by the Jacob Coppus American Legion Post 258, will immediately follow.   Committal at St. John Cemetery.