Adam James Hammis, age 36, of Stoughton, Wisconsin, passed away in the late evening of Saturday, December 21, 2024, on the Winter Solstice. Always the brave warrior, Adam took flight alone while his parents were resting next to him.
Adam was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Jim and Beth on June 19, 1988, Father’s Day of that year. The oldest of three children, he started life on the South side of Milwaukee. Eventually, the family moved to Stoughton, Wisconsin when he was seven.
He is survived by his beloved daughter, Saige, and her mother, Brianne, his sweet dog Penny, father Jim, mother Beth, step-father Randy, sister Molly (Dusty), their twins Meggie and Kai, and sons Tyrion, Nolan, Oliver, sister Zoë (Bradley), their children Josephine and Benjamin, stepsister Lydia (Joseph) and stepbrother Skyler. Adam also enjoyed years with his loving stepmother Stefanie, his maternal grandparents Eugene and Patricia, and his paternal grandparents James and Carolyn. Adam also had dozens of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that he loved and was so grateful for the love that he received from them.
Adam’s life was a mixture of great joys and difficult hardships, but through it, he was always learning and lived his life looking forward to new experiences. While enduring extensive health battles in his final years, he never surrendered his quest for life. Adam left this earth in peace and with his inner light fully shining, loving all of those around him and looking forward to his next grand adventure.
A “musical maestro” at heart, Adam moved in concert with life from a smiling burst of love as a toddler, moving and weaving through his youth, filled with sports, friends, cottages, vacations, love of his sisters, forts, bikes, trails, outdoors, fishing, golf, Mom’s hugs, and Dad’s “helicopter” rides, and Christmas morning presents that covered the entire living room floor. He loved Pokémon cards and neighborhood water balloon fights, sleepovers in the driveway pop up camper and flashlight tag till past midnight with neighborhood friends, as well as hours upon hours in the family pool.
As Adam turned to adulthood, his passion for music became the centerpiece of his life. Adam had the unique ability to understand any musical instrument that he picked up. From early piano lessons to his first drum set, he lived the sound, passion, uniqueness and talent created with his band-mates and his music of guitar, drums, and singing. While shows came and went, the sounds from the shop at the Highway 51 studio with friends and collaborators never stopped, mixing, composing, and recording. There was not a missing moment for over a decade where he did not create or craft unique and extraordinary music.
Through music and fatherhood, Adam created the most treasured song of his life, his daughter Saige.
Adam received a college degree in cinematography, video production, and voice recording from the Madison Media Institute (MMI). He also enjoyed coaching soccer and softball and traveling. He loved the San Francisco 49’ers and the Marquette Golden Eagles basketball, rarely missing a televised game.
Adam’s love and appreciation of all things Nordic and Icelandic culminated in his travel to and exploration of the country of Iceland with his daughter Saige for his 36th birthday last June. Together they traveled to the Blue Lagoon, explored volcanoes and legendary waterfalls, took long hikes, and experienced the sights and sounds of Iceland. This was a huge connection that spoke to his soul. To experience it all with his daughter Saige was a dream come true.
The family will arrange a celebration of life in the next few months when better weather and safer travel are probable. Until then, Adam’s remains will rest in peace at Cress Funeral Home in Stoughton, WI.
Adam and Saige have requested that any gifts be made in Adam’s name to the Dane County Humane Society through their website at www.giveshelter.org/how-to-help/donate
As Adam was aware of his limited time on the planet over the past few weeks, he asked us to leave you with the following:
“Hail to the gods! We praise and honor you as we praise and honor the dead. Hail to the brave warrior, the bright-shield warrior, as Adam was called! To his kinsmen and friends: may he live long in the memory of men and sit among his kinsmen in Valhalla! We praise him for hist standing forth, for his bravery, and for his blithe manner and wise spirit.”
Please share your memories of Adam by posting in his Guestbook.
Cress Funeral Services
206 W. Prospect Street, PO Box 231, Stoughton
(608) 873-9244
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