William E. “Bill” Hamm

William E. “Bill” Hamm

October 7, 1944 – June 6, 2023

William E. Hamm, 78, of Waverly, Iowa died at the Cedar Valley Hospice Center (Waterloo) on June 6, 2023.   

The son of Ralph E. “Hap” and Pauline (Piotraschke) Hamm of Clarion, Iowa, Bill graduated from Clarion High School in 1962, earned his BA degree in 1966 from Wartburg College (Waverly), and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Iowa. He received honorary degrees from Wartburg, the University of Charleston (WV), and Davis and Elkins College (WV).

Bill spent his entire career in higher education, beginning at Wartburg where he worked in Admissions. From 1975-1978, he consulted at Huntingdon College (Montgomery, AL), before becoming a vice president at California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks, CA) 1978-1986, president of Waldorf College (Forest City) 1986-1999, and president of the Foundation for Independent Higher Education (Washington, DC) 1999-2008.  Bill returned to Wartburg as interim president during the 2008-2009 academic year, then served as president of the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America (LECNA) 2009-2015.  

Throughout his lifetime, Bill held many board memberships and leadership positions both locally and nationally.  Bill was a past president of Ascension Lutheran Church (Thousand Oaks, CA) and Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church & School (Waverly).  A longtime Rotarian, Bill received the Service Above Self Award from two clubs and was past president of the Waverly Rotary Club. His accolades for community service included recognition from the California House and Senate, and from Iowa Sister Cities as Global Citizen of the Year.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his sister. He is survived by his closest cousin, John (Jan) Peterson (Humboldt, IA) and their family. 

Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023 at the Wartburg College Chapel and livestreamed at: https://tinyurl.com/bdsatuhv Guests are invited to wear orange in celebration of Bill’s beloved alma mater. Private graveside services will be held at a later date.   

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be designated to William E. Hamm Scholarships at Wartburg College, California Lutheran University, Waldorf Lutheran College Foundation, or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School.