Mr. Jon L. Hanson, 52, of Clear Lake, died Friday, May 1, 1998 at
his home. Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 5, at the Zion
Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Dean Hess officiating.
Interment was in the Clear Lake Cemetery.
The Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Jon L. Hanson memorial fund.
Jon was born March 4, 1946 in Garner, Iowa, the son of Erwin and Dorothy (Carter) Hanson. He attended Clear Lake High School, where he participated in varsity football each of his four years and earned All-State honors. He graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1964 and then attended Mason City Junior College and Hamilton Business College in Mason City.
He married Carol Hensley on Sept. 19, 1970 in Des Moines, Iowa. The couple lived their entire married life in Clear Lake.
After finishing college he came back to the family business, Hanson's Marine in Clear Lake, where he worked and later owned and operated the business until his retirement. He was regarded as a smart business man. He would try to wrangle a deal and he usually succeeded.
Jon enjoyed all aspects of nature and wildlife. He could spend hours watching a campfire. He took numerous, memorable fishing trips to Northern Minnesota and Canada. He loved the birch trees, the lakes, and the peace he found in the untouched beauty of nature. Jon was a lifetime supporter of Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever. As a young man, he enjoyed hunting and trapping. In more recent years, he preferred a more peaceful relationship with animals. He loved to feed and watch the geese fly in and out of the pond. Jon was always bringing a menagerie of animals home to his own "On Golden Pond."
Of course, Jon loved the lake. He grew up on the lake skiing, fishing, boating, swimming, snowmobiling and ice fishing. He always prided himself on having the first dock and boat on the lake in the early spring.
He loved to watch sports, especially football. Jon enjoyed playing cards, especially playing cribbage with his mother and shooting pool. Jon loved to travel, he especially enjoyed the trips he took with his family and friends to Orlando, Fla. Jon loved taking his grandchildren to Disney World, because it embodied child-like hope and happiness. One of Jon's favorite sayings was 'Dare to Be Happy, Don't Be Afraid for this is the Day The Lord has Made'. He also enjoyed his peace and quite.
Jon Hanson embraced happiness. He was a fun loving spirit with a heart of gold. He gave to everyone ... he gave smiles, hugs, advice, optimism, friendship, hope, love and support. Jon loved to buy and give gifts. The greatest gift he ever gave was himself. Friends and family will cherish the memories of the time spent with a man like no other, a true, generous friend. Like a boat roaring across the lake into the sunset, Jon wanted to leave peace and quiet in his wake.
Jon dearly loved his family. His greatest joy was spending time with them. He is survived by his wife, Carol Hanson, Clear Lake; his mother, Dorothy Rogers, Clear Lake; two daughters, Robin Garrington and her husband, Brad, Clear Lake, and Heather Hanson, Ankeny, Iowa; three grandchildren, Faith, Autumn and Carter Garrington; and several nieces and nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father; one brother, James Hanson; grandparents, Lynn and Zella Carter and J. Christopher and Martha Hanson.
