Thomas E. Hanson, 56, passed away on Monday, June 29, 2009, at Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center following a brief battle with a rare form of Pneumonia following surgery.
Tom was born in Racine on September 10, 1952, the son of Leland ‘Lee’ Hanson and Dolores ‘Dee’ Hanson. After graduating from Salem Central High School in 1970, he attended the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse for a year. In 1971, Tom enlisted in the Marine Corps, serving in the Philippines, Okinawa, and Vietnam for land duty. His ship duties were aboard the Juneau and US Okinawa. He attained the rank of Lance Corporal and was discharged in 1974. He was proud to be a Marine. Tom then attended University of Wisconsin-Parkside for a year. He loved working with wood and so he moved to the Fox Valley and became a Building Contractor. His last ventures were with Twin Disc, Jensen Metals, and Michael Machine as a Machinist. Tom was a lover of nature, an avid fisherman, and a precise marksman with a bow and arrow.
Tom is survived by his two children, Camilla and Erik Gomez; his mother, Dolores Hanson; sister, Kären Peterson; nephew, Hans Peterson; and niece, Kirsten Horning. He was preceded in death by his father, ‘Lee’.
Memorial service with full Military Honors for Tom will be held at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Friday, July 10, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. Interment will immediately follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family have been suggested. PURATH-STRAND FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY 3915 Douglas Avenue 639-8000 www.purath-strand.com
My condolences in your loss.
I get the sense he was a good man.
Hans, thanks for writing this – beautiful – very well done. I won’t be able to go as well, but will be there is thought and spirit. Hope you are doing ok.