Robert M. Hanft

A memorial service for 38 year Paradise resident Robert M. Hanft, 90, will be Saturday December 4, 2004, 11 am at Craig Memorial Congregational Church 5665 Scottwood Rd., Paradise (corner of Pearson). A reception will follow. He died Nov. 29, 2004 in Paradise. He was born March 17, 1914 to Jennie and Frank Hanft in Marinette, WI. He Married Annabelle Jane Lester April 7, 1942 in Long Prairie, MN. They were married 57 years. Annabelle died Dec. 11, 1999 in Paradise, CA.
He is survived by a niece, Jane (Hanft) Zimmer of Sarasota, FL., grand niece Jennifer Hanft, Danville, CA, grand niece Kathy Hanft of Chapel Hill, NC and nieces by marriage, Caroline Lester, Modesto, CA and Arletta (Lester) Dimberg, Charlottesville, VA.
His very interesting life found him riding the rails, hobo style, during the depression years to find work wherever he could. His passionate interest in photography led him to start ""Lakeside Photo Service"" on Rt. 5, Brainerd, MN in 1939. Two years later, he enlisted in the U.S. army from 1941-1945 and with his master photographer skills, he spent much of his army career in Hollywood making army training films as a staff sergeant.
He educated himself with help from the G.I. Bill and achieved a B.A. in Psychology, a masters degree in Business Administration and a P.H.D. in Philosophy. During his working career, he was employed by Standard Oil, U.C. Berkeley, CA State U. Fresno and CA. State U. Chico where he was named Professor Emeritus in Management. He joined the Chico State Faculty in 1967.
He was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Fraternity, U.C. Berkeley Alumni Assn., U. of Washington Alumni Assn., The Nature Conservancy and nearly every Railway and Trolley Historical Organization in the United States from Maine to California.
He developed an outstanding historical collection of railroad and trolley photos from age 15 and on through his life. He had a brilliant mind for detail and authored and published three books on railroads, Red River, Pine Across the Mountain and San Diego and Arizona Railway. He loved to come home from major trips, reminisce, and with pen in hand would write ""sagas"" of the Hanft travels.
Memorial contributions may be made to Craig Memorial Congregational Church or Paradise Chapter of Salvation Army, P.O. Box 663, Paradise, CA 95969