▁age ▁of ▁ 1 3 , ▁became ▁a ▁partner ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁and ▁purchased ▁the ▁business ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 5 . ▁Russ ▁Johnson ▁Sr . ▁worked ▁at ▁Ham mer ▁Ph arm acy ▁for ▁years ▁until ▁he ▁passed ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 8 2 . ▁Russell ▁E . ▁Johnson , ▁Jr ., ▁R . Ph . ▁followed ▁in ▁his ▁father ' s ▁foot steps ▁and ▁started ▁working ▁for ▁Ham mer ▁Ph arm acy ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 1 ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 1 . ▁He ▁began ▁work ▁as ▁a ▁Ph arm ac ist ▁when ▁he ▁completed ▁school ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 2 ▁and ▁became ▁a ▁manager ▁of ▁the ▁store ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 4 . ▁He ▁currently ▁is ▁a ▁major ▁stock holder ▁of ▁the ▁company . ▁▁ ▁Since ▁its ▁found ing , ▁Ham mer ▁Ph arm acy ▁has ▁remained ▁an ▁independent ▁ph arm acy ▁and ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁few ▁remaining ▁such ▁ph arma cies ▁in ▁Des ▁Mo ines ▁today . ▁ ▁It ▁is ▁affili ated ▁with ▁Ham mer ▁Medical ▁Supp ly , ▁a ▁family ▁of ▁nine ▁dur able ▁medical ▁equipment ▁stores ▁located ▁in ▁Iowa . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁ ▁Category : Ret ail ▁companies ▁established ▁in ▁ 1 8 7 2 ▁Category : He alth ▁care ▁companies ▁based ▁in ▁Iowa ▁Category : Ph arma cies ▁of ▁the ▁United ▁States <0x0A> </s> ▁Pat ric ia ▁Maria ▁Spr at len ▁( mar ried ▁name ▁E