Hanson, Clifford H (1929-2018)

HANSON, GIBSON, JOHNSON, MITTS, JORDAN, GUSTAFSON, WEEKS, MURPHY, RASMUSSON

Posted By: Debbie Greenfield (email)
Date: 12/12/2020 at 10:51:58

Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, Iowa, August 28, 2018

Clifford H. Hanson, age 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend unexpectedly passed from this life on August 25, 2018. Visitation is at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 30th at Asbury United Methodist Church in Webster City, Iowa followed by a 2:00 p.m. Memorial Service. A private family graveside service will be held at the Gilbert Cemetery near Gilbert, Iowa.

Cliff was born on February 9, 1929 in Story County, Iowa to Hans and Hazel (Gibson) Hanson, growing up on the family farm near Story City and later, Blairsburg, Iowa. After graduating from Blairsburg High School, Cliff was a member of the Iowa National Guard and attended Iowa State University majoring in farm operations. It was at ISU that he met the love of his life on a blind date, Shirley Johnson, a home economics major, from New Virginia, Iowa.

Cliff and Shirley were married on July 5, 1953, raised two daughters, Karen and Carol, of whom they were always so proud, and spent the next 65 years together as partners and best friends in every sense of the word.

Together, they successfully farmed near Blairsburg for many years, also finding time for the annual family summer vacations to Estes Park, Colorado or Jackson, Wyoming, many adventures in travel with good friends Gene and Annetta Berg or Wilbur and Eleanor Schumaker, cheering on the Cyclones as long-time basketball ticket holders and firm believers in ‘Hilton Magic,’ enjoying concerts at the Civic Center in Des Moines, and hitting the links in Jewell or at the Briggs Woods Golf Course.

After retirement to Webster City and one too many Iowa winters, Cliff and Shirley decided to make a second home in Mesa, Arizona at Valle del Oro. For 25 years, they thoroughly enjoyed the warm sunshine of the southwest, the Phoenix Suns, watching the Cyclones with all the other Iowa State fans at R.T. O’ Sullivans, the symphony, volunteering, Organ Stop Pizza with their granddaughter, lots of golf, and the company of a wonderful group of friends.

When back in Iowa, Cliff could be found happily enjoying the decades old tradition of the Birthday Club in Webster City as well as his coffee groups, especially the regular Saturday morning get together at Coney’s, a group so iconic they are recognized in caricature on the walls of the restaurant.

Cliff is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughter, Karen Hanson, West Des Moines, Iowa and Carol Mitts (Jeff), Glenwood, Iowa; granddaughter, Jennifer Mitts (Aaron Jordan), Ames, Iowa; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dick and Carolyn Gustafson, Jim and Leona Weeks, and Fred Murphy, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by father and mother-in-law, Walt and Edna Johnson; sister, Edith and brother-in-law, Jeff Rasmusson; brother, Clint and sister-in-law, Jeanette Hanson; sister, Virginia Hanson; sister-in-law, Lois Murphy; other relatives and cherished friends.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Iowa State University Foundation –Agriculture General Scholarship Endowment Fund — in memory of Cliff, or Asbury United Methodist Church.