H.L. "Larry" Hanson
H. L. “Larry” Hanson, 93, of Grand Island, NE died peacefully Sunday, June 11, 2017. Celebration of life memorial service was held Monday, July 19 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Grand Island, NE. Burial of ashes was in Grand Island City Cemetery with military honors provided by the U.S. Air Force and Grand Island Veterans’ Honor Guard.
Larry, the son of Almer and Ida (Larson) Hanson, was born August 12, 1923 in Waukon. He grew up on a farm in northeast Iowa, graduated from Waukon High School and attended North East Iowa Junior College. He took his first job at North American Aviation in California to help construct B24s and P51s.
September 8, 1943, at Camp Dodge, he entered the United States Army Air Corps serving with the 376 RAF Bombardment Group. He was assigned to an electronics cadet school at Chanute Field in Illinois and continued radar training in Boca Raton, FL. He was in a group of 12 radar specialists who were transported on the USS Black to the shorelines of Naples, Italy. There he flew with B24 bombers in the European Theater, WWII. The B24 bombers were nicknamed the “Liberators” and were instrumental in destroying the German refineries supplying Hitler’s troops.
Following the war, he was assigned to the Grand Island Army Air Base where he met his bride-to-be, Margaret Knickrehm. He was discharged February 22, 1946. Larry did not talk about his WWII experiences until later in life with his grandkids. He was very proud and appreciated the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC with the WWII Honor Flight.
September 22, 1946, Larry was united in marriage to Margaret at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. They made Grand Island, NE their home with their children, Linda, Tom and Susan. Following his discharge, Larry worked for NE Consolidated Milling, the U.S. Postal Service, and eventually in heating and air conditioning for the Hehnke-Lohmann Company. The company later became Grand Island Furnace & Supply, where he served as president.
Before Margaret’s Alzheimer diagnosis, they enjoyed extensive travels and loved playing bridge with friends. Larry’s love for Margaret led them to many years of seeking treatment for her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. He drove to Aurora, NE to see her daily through her last six and a half years at the Hamilton Manor.
Larry was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, sang in choir, and served as secretary of the church council for six years. He served as Chairman of the Board at Equitable Building and Loan, president of the West Lawn PTA, and president of the GI Jaycees.
He was a member of the American Legion, Elks and Liederkranz.
He loved to sing and dance and was an avid sports fan. He sang Barber Shop and in the Grand Island City Singers. He loved his family and took pride in their activities. He cherished his Norwegian heritage and enjoyed returning to Iowa to spend time with his brothers and extended family fishing.
Those left to cherish Larry’s memory include his children: Linda (Don) Bottorf of Sutton, NE, Tom (Mary Ann) Hanson of Grand Island, NE and Susan (John) McDonald of Phillips, NE; his grandchildren: April (Matt) Lott, Becky (Darreck) Clines, JD (Jaimie) Bottorf, Holly (Mario) Hanson Lindiman, Elliott (Brittany) Bottorf, Paul (Micah) Hanson Rhodes, Wesley (fiancée Emily Motto) Bottorf, James McDonald, David McDonald, Shawn McDonald, Grace McDonald and Alice McDonald; his great-grandchildren: Brodie, Colbie, Cade, Colton, Dayna, Owen, Emily, Kaitlyn, Khale, Kiera, Beto, Eva, Brynley and Samantha; his sisters-in-law, Joyce Hanson and Helen Hanson; and a brother-in-law, Robert Knickrehm.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret, in 2001; his parents; his brothers, Arden Hanson and Vernon Hanson; his sister, Cynthia Winkie; his great-granddaughter, Alyssa Daniel; and two nephews, Eugene Hanson and Mark Hanson.
Memorials are suggested to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or Hall County Hero Flights. All Faiths Funeral Home of Grand Island is serving the family. Online remembrances may be left at www.giallfaiths.com.
