Gerald R. Hanson

Gerald R. Hanson

Gerald R. Hanson, 88, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, died Friday, April 4, 2008 at the Trinity Regional Medical Center.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at the St. Olaf Lutheran Church with the Rev. John Sersland and the Rev. David Grindberg officiating. Interment will follow in the North Lawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Walter Porsch V.F.W. Post 1856. Visitation will be held from 5 until 7 p.m. Monday at the Bruce-Graham Funeral Home.

Gerald Ralph Hanson was born April 28, 1919 near Blue Earth, MN. He grew up around Thor, Iowa, graduating from Thor High School in 1936. Gerald enlisted in the United States Army in 1940, serving in the Coastal Artillery and the Army Air Corps. He was honorably discharged in 1944 to return home to take over the family produce business.

On April 17, 1944 Gerald was united in marriage to Elizabeth Schick in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Gerald and his brother Lloyd built the Hanson Produce building in 1946 and the business grew from cartooning eggs to breaking and freezing eggs for shipment across the United States. Later the plant closed and they began feeding cattle. In 1975 Gerald became a commodity broker with R.G. Dickinson in Fort Dodge until his retirement in 1986.

Gerald loved baseball playing for Thor High School and later playing softball for Tonys Famous Food from 1946-1950. He played in the world tournament In Arizona in 1950. Gerald was also an avid Cubs fan.

In 1961 Gerald was elected to the board of directors of Lutheran Hospital. He served until the merger of Mercy and Lutheran Hospitals. He was elected treasurer of the newly formed Hospital Oleson Foundation, managing the funds for twenty years. Gerald served on the board until 2004.

Gerald served actively at St. Olaf Lutheran Church. He helped to establish the St. Olaf Church Foundation, managing the funds for twenty years.

Gerald enjoyed many summers fishing at Spirit Lake, Iowa and playing golf at the American Legion Golf Course in Fort Dodge and in Arizona during the winter.

Gerald is survived by his wife of sixty-four years; Elizabeth, son; Gerald (Dee) Hanson of Scottsdale, Arizona, daughter; Ruth (Arlyn) Boelman of Ogden, Iowa, five grandchildren; Jennifer Hanson (Michel Rozenfeld) of Minneapolis, MN, Daniel (Lindsey) Boelman of Pella, IA, Steven Hanson of St. Paul, MN, Mark (Corlet) Boelman of Loveland, CO, Elizabeth (Nathan) Wall of Urbandale, IA, four great-grandchildren; Kyle Boelman, Asa Rozenfeld, Christopher Wall and Ashley Boelman.

Mr. Hanson was preceded in death by his grandparents; Rolf and Gjertina Hanson, parents; George and Margaret Hanson, sister; Carolyn Behrens, two brothers; Lloyd and Carlyle Hanson.

Bruce-Graham Funeral Home