Thomas Alan Hammeke, PhD, age 75, of Milwaukee, WI, passed away on April 8, 2026. Born on December 10,1950 and raised on a farm outside of Belpre, Kansas, he was preceded in death by his parents, Melvin and Loraine Hammeke, and brother, Paul. Tom was greatly loved and will be missed by his family and many friends and colleagues. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; and by his children: Megan (Wiegand), Erin, and Paul, as well as their spouses and children, to whom he was their beloved Opa. He is additionally survived by his siblings: Michael, Kenneth, David, and Susan (Werth).

Tom was the fourth of six children born to Melvin and Loraine. The farm on which he was raised left a lasting impact on Tom, be it through his daily chores or antics -- catfishing in the nearby creek; putting sails on bicycles; or building an extensive underground tunnel network, complete with multiple rooms in which kids could gather and tend to underground fires(!) Tom ended up leaving the farm but it never left him. His work ethic, handiness, and sense of adventure could be attributed to early days on the farm. Tom’s optimism, humility and sense of humor could perhaps be best credited to his parents. Melvin lived with ALS for 40 years and Loraine was his dedicated caretaker; witnessing their sweet love and joy found in simple things, shaped Tom into the stoic, humble, and patient person he came to be.

Tom attended seminary for high school in Victoria, KS, but much to the chagrin of the priests there, he found a calling and a soulmate at Fort Hays State University. Tom met Sharon Howard of Saint Francis, KS in their first year of college and they married about a year later in 1971. Tired from his night shifts at a pizza restaurant, Sharon remembers taking notes for him while he slept through class. Senior year, they served as houseparents' at a group home for teenagers. After graduation, they moved to Vermillion, SD for graduate school, where Tom completed a PhD in clinical psychology. Just prior to finishing his doctoral work, Megan was born. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Milwaukee to further his career, and they settled in Wauwatosa, where they had two additional children, Erin and Paul.

Tom was a dedicated scientist. Fascinated by the brain, he found a calling in the specialty of neuropsychology. In a career that spanned almost 50 years, he left a particularly enduring impact on the people of the Medical College of Wisconsin and on the field of clinical neuropsychology at large.

He was the second faculty hired in the Division of Neuropsychology at MCW in 1978. He served as Division Chief from 1985 through 2010 when he left to finish his career at the Milwaukee Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Tom developed the postdoctoral training program in the Division and led the national charge to develop standards for postdoctoral training. He was the founding president of the Association of Postdoctoral Programs in Clinical Neuropsychology (APPCN). He further developed a legacy of service to the profession, serving as the president of the American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology (ABCN) and the American Psychological Association’s Division 40 (the Society of Clinical Neuropsychology). He was the recipient of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology’s Distinguished Neuropsychologist Award in 2013. Tom made groundbreaking contributions to research on fMRI and traumatic brain injury. He has had a lasting influence on the more than 100 fellows he trained and the scores of faculty members he mentored over the years.

Family was the backbone of Tom’s life, providing support throughout his demanding career, and joining him on countless road and camping trips and at their beloved cottage on Big Cedar Lake. Tom liked to joke that he only made three mistakes in his life, but his children knew how much he cared for them by the way he invested in these adventures and the way he shared his love of life with them. In later years, his children called him “Tireless Tom” because of the many decks and fences he built and doors he oiled for them; he was never without a project.

After raising their 3 children, Sharon and Tom made the decision to move to a high-rise on the lakefront of Milwaukee. From there they enjoyed watching many beautiful sunrises and sunsets and the weather as it came in from the lake. This transition to condo living allowed them the freedom to travel to more than 30 countries including some of Tom’s favorites, Ha Long Bay, Vietnam and Machu Picchu, Peru as well as visiting his children and grandchildren in Alaska, Colorado, and North Carolina. Tom continued to work on a contracted basis until August of 2025 when he finally chose to retire.

During his years on the lake, Tom developed his talents in woodworking and sailing. His proximity to the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center allowed him to walk, or motorcycle, to the sailing center on a perfect wind day. He contributed countless volunteer hours, mentored hundreds of students, and gave many rides to those who could not sail themselves, including a group of blind Burmese veterans who delighted in sounds of the water. When the sailing season was over, he would transition to woodworking at the Washington Park Senior Center. Captivated by new challenges, he turned many bowls, created beautiful yet practical cutting boards and vases, and carved unique sculptures, most of which were gifted to friends and family. Many people are lucky enough to have a Tom original. For nearly 6 years, Tom sent a daily humor email, a testament to how much he valued laughter and community.

Tom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in March of 2025, and passed away about a year later, surrounded by his loving family. Tom enriched every space he was in and his memory will echo through generations of people he impacted. Tom’s wise, ever-tolerant, and accepting presence, his warmth and steadiness, struck all who had the good fortune to meet him. His interest in and compassion for people was seemingly boundless, and his contributions to the common good never wavered. While his skills and accomplishments were many, one would never know it from his understated nature. Esse quam videri. Donations in his memory can be made to the Milwaukee Community Sailing Center.