James William Hemmann

“Jim” was born on February 26, 1944, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to William and Martha (Lueders) Hemmann. He grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where he attended Lutheran parochial schools, graduating from Lutheran Central High School in 1962. Jim attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri (Mizzou) before joining the U.S. Army in 1964, serving most of his three-year enlistment in Germany. When he returned home, he continued his college education at Mizzou and also worked with his father in the landscaping business. In 1970, Jim moved to California and continued his college education at the University of California, Berkley, majoring in their landscape architecture program, where he obtained his Bachelor's and Master's Degrees. Jim then started his own successful landscape architecture business: Jim Hemmann Associates. He consulted, designed and supervised a variety of civic and private projects throughout California and internationally until his retirement.

During grade school and high school, Jim learned to play the trombone and continued his love of music for years afterward, including playing in drum and bugle corps competitions, as well as with the marching band at the University of Missouri.

Jim was active in his church and went on several mission trips, especially “Christmas in July”. He also enjoyed camping, sailing in the bay and traveling around the United States and internationally, sightseeing and visiting family and friends. One of his trips included a travel tour of China.

In 1992, Jim and his 2nd wife adopted two young brothers, Ben and Steve, whom he loved very much.

Jim had many friends, and they remember him as friendly to everyone, fun loving, caring, and a pleasure to be around. He was well liked by his neighbors. And he loved his pets.

Jim was preceded in death by his father and mother and by his son Benjamin James Hemmann.

He is survived by his sisters, (Miriam Marshall and Deborah Floersch), his brothers, (Paul Hemmann and Mark Hemmann), his son (Steven William Hemmann), and two grandchildren (Destiny Rose Hemmann and Dillon James Hemmann).

A celebration of Jim’s life is pending.

A short Celebration of Life video created by the family can be viewed at:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/w3q75zr7kv4zxj0/Jims%20Celebration%20of%20Life.mp4?dl=0