James Allen Hanson

NORTHWOOD - James Allen Hanson, 78, of Northwood, died Sunday (Nov. 2, 2008) at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood.

Funeral service for James will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, at the First Lutheran Church, 309 N. Ninth St. in Northwood, with the Rev. Daniel R. Hart officiating. Burial will be in the London Deer Creek Cemetery, rural Northwood, with military graveside honors conducted by members of "Our Buddies" Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6779, of Northwood.

Visitation will be held from 4 until 7 p.m. Thursday at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. S. in Northwood. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to service time on Friday at the church.

The family of James Allen Hanson has requested that memorial contributions be made to the scholarship program at the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood, or to Hospice of North Iowa in his memory.

James Allen Hanson was born on Feb. 7, 1930, in Linn Grove, the son of Hiram and Agnes (Fonley) Hanson. He attended and received his education in the Linn Grove School system, graduating from Linn Grove High School. Jim was inducted into the U.S. Navy in 1947, and served during the Korean Conflict until his honorable discharge in 1951. He was united in marriage to Virginia Albright on June 7, 1952, in Oregon, Ill. She preceded him in death on Nov. 2, 2003.

Jim attended barber college in Sioux City, and did his barbering in Spencer and Northwood. Jim also was the Worth County Treasurer for 20 years, and served on the Northwood City Council.

He enjoyed fishing, horses, traveling, and having coffee with his friends at the Corner Post Restaurant in Northwood, but his greatest love and enjoyment was his family and grandchildren, and attending all their school events.

Jim was a member of the First Lutheran church in Northwood, where he had served on the church council and as a Bethel instructor and Sunday School teacher, he was also a member of the Jaycees, American Legion, and was a member of "Our Buddies" Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 6779 of Northwood.

Left to cherish his memory are his children, Greg Hanson of Northwood, Jim (Kathy) Hanson of Northwood, Steve (Connie) Hanson of Nampa, Idaho, Harlan (Marilyn) Hanson of West Des Moines, Scott Hanson and his special friend, Jeanette Smith of Northwood, and Ruth (Jim) Hanson of Northwood; 18 grandchildren, Jake (Tristan) Hanson, Jim (Becky) Hanson, Mitch (Jessica) Hanson, Sam (Jenny) Hanson, Dan, Randi and Blair Schmidt, Jason and Nicholas Hanson, all of Northwood, Sarah (Lawrence) Lee of Piney Flats, Tenn., Jon Hanson of Boone, Beth Hanson of Pella, Mary Beth, Mark, Adam, and Aaron (Linnea) Hanson of Nampa, Idaho, and Rachel and Jamie Hanson of West Des Moines; four great-granddaughters, MacKenzi, Madalynn, Haddie, and Merrin Hanson of Northwood; two brothers, John (Gayle) Hanson, of Fresno, Calif., Harold (April) Hanson, of Sioux City; two sisters, Rachel (Chuck) Storm of Sioux City, and Donna Benson of Denver, Colo.; two sisters-in-law, Susan Hanson of Sioux City, and Ruth Hughes of Oregon, Ill., as well as many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Virginia; a brother, Robert Hanson; two sisters, Carol Norton and Janet Angert; two brothers-in-law, E.H. Hughes and Bill Benson; and a daughter-in-law, Vickie Hanson.

Conner Colonial Chapel, 641- 324-1543; www.colonialchapels.com.