William W. Hanson

William S. Hanson, 88, of Elizabethtown passed away peacefully after a battle with cancer on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Born in Johnstown, he was the son of the late William and Elizabeth (Lorditch) Hanson. He was the loving husband of 55 years to Nancy J. (Wendal) Hanson.

Bill attended Richland High School before joining the U.S. Navy at 17. There he served aboard heavy cruisers, U.S. Baltimore and USS Toledo 133 as a radar man and a shell back. He worked with Johnstown School System, Cadillac Motors, and PennDot. Bill went to American K9 in Nashville, TN as a dog trainer and started Hanson’s Dog Grooming with his wife. He loved to snuggle with his dog Jack.

In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by five children, Matthew T. Hanson, Kelly Ann Ostrander, Charlene R. Custer, Leslie E. Brosius, and Deborah J. Kuch; six grandchildren, Julia, Lisa, Taresa, Glenn, Joe, and Tim; five great-grandchildren, Kiley, Vincent, Machel, Emmy, and Lila; and four siblings, Charlene Torchia, Thomas Torchia, Ronald Hanson, and Donald Hanson. He is preceded in death by a son, William G. Hanson; along with his parents.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 12PM at Miller-Finkenbinder Funeral Home, 130 N. Market St., Elizabethtown, PA 17022. Interment with military honors will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, PA. Family and friends are invited to view from 11AM until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project at www.WoundedWarriorProject.org