Jason Hamm

A beautiful person with bright, shiny, blonde hair and an unforgettable smile, Jason Michael Hamm always found something in life to be excited about. He was active and energetic, always laughing or finding ways to make others laugh. His greatest happiness was to make the people he loved happy, his parents, his brother and sister, his niece.

Born on August 4, 1983, Jason was a good baby from the very beginning, showing, even in these early days, that familiar, permanent smile on his face and his sweet personality. The youngest of three children, he grew up in the family home in Indianapolis with the company of his older sister Jennifer and his brother Bryan. He was close with both his siblings; he was Jennifer's little pal, since they shared the same initials. Growing up, he loved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and he would wrestle and rough house. He had a cheerful, energetic personality, which sometimes caused an accident, like the time he fell down the laundry shoot--he looked like a monkey in a cage. From the earliest days in his life to the end, Jason loved to spend time with his family. He could talk up a storm, and he could have the entire room in laughter with the crack of a witty joke. Christmas and birthday parties were always big events in the family. You could always find Jason at the dinner table when his mother was serving her famous macaroni and cheese, a dish she prepared for Jason this past Thanksgiving. His parents Brenda Bennett and Michael Hamm were always very proud of him.

As an active child with a boatload of energy, Jason could be bouncing off the walls one minute and then fast asleep the next. Even when he slept, his mind was still ticking with new ideas, new things to do. With his gift to make people laugh, a gift that Jason often exercised, he thought that he might be a comedian someday. He had worked out a skit that would work well in a stand-up environment.

With an active mind that moved in serveral different directions, Jason always had a variety of interests and hobbies. In his Cub and Boy Scout days, he belonged to Troop 186. He enjoyed camping, which was the real reason he joined the scouts; he was also a talented fire-crafter. He loved music, and his taste was so diverse that he could listen to the score from Phantom of the Opera or Rent one minute, then just as happily change over to rap music. He loved musicals, and he liked to go to see the plays. At St. Luke's Methodist Church, he showed his love for yet a different kind of music in the several years he spent in the bell choir. His church was like a second home. He belonged to the youth group and found many of his best friends in the congregation.

For his education, Jason attended Nora Elementary School and then moved onto a couple different middle schools. He played on the football team until a bad injury took him off the field. Jason went to Hamilton Southeastern High School where he played on the football team during his sophomore year and graduated in 2002.

After graduating, Jason enlisted in the Army in September. He had made the decision to serve his country just one week before September 11th, and despite the new uncertainties this attack presented, Jason held strong to his desire to serve his country. In fact, he was excited about his service, and he even enjoyed basic training--he liked the structure. Though his family was worried about Jason's safety, they supported him during his service with the Army. He had been stationed at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. He was proud to wear his uniform.

During Jason's service, he learned that his sister and her husband were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child. When Jason earned his discharge from the Army just two weeks ago, he returned to Indianapolis to meet the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life. Jason first laid eyes on his niece Kaitlyn McDaniel in the airport. Just sixteen months old, the sight of young Kaitlyn filled Jason with all the happiness and pride of an uncle. With that happiness and pride came a very soft spot in his heart, and just the other day Jason spent seven of his last ten dollars for a gift for Kaitlyn. It was a thrill for him to go to the Circle of Lights Festival with her the night after Thanksgiving.

Throughout his life, Jason loved animals, especially the family dog named Jackie, who was his true pal. He recently found a liking for the cat at his father's house, an older animal with little energy named Tang. After spending just a short while with Jason, Tang started to show more life--it was suddenly eager and excited a lot of the time. This reflects the way that Jason was in all of his relationships: he was always so full of life that he couldn't help but pass on his excitement and energy to the people around him. Just as soon as he entered a room, his happiness became everyone's happiness.

Jason died on November 30, 2004. Survivors include his parents, Brenda & Jim Bennett; father, Michael L. Hamm; sister, Jennifer McDaniel (Ryan); brother, Bryan Hamm; niece Kaitlyn McDaniel; step-brother, Jim Bennett; step-sister, Elaine Bennett; grandmother, Edythe Bennett; Aunt Judy & Uncle Bob Bucy, Russell, Mary Kay, and Jake Bucy; and Angela & Vinnie Oliveri; aunt, Beverly Williams Adams. Friends and family will gather on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Leppert Life Story Funeral Home, Nora Chapel, 740 E. 86th St. Jason’s Life Story funeral service will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the Robertson Chapel at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church. You are invited to visit www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a personal memory, arrange for flowers, or make a memorial contribution, in lieu of flowers, to the St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Youth Group or Boy Scout Troop #186.

Jason will be greatly missed and frequently remembered by the many people who loved him.