Stephen L. HANSON

HANSON, LYNN, HAMILTON, HINRICHSEN, COX, MILLER, ANDREW, FARLOW, FREEMAN, STEFFENS, ALEMAN, BOSLER, KAUFFMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/15/2013 at 17:28:45

January 29, 1941 ---- January 29, 2013

Saint Joseph, MO --- Stephen L. Hanson, 72, passed away January 29, 2013. He was preceded in death by his wife Beverly, daughter Pam, parents Ruth and Otto W. Hanson, and sister Marjorie Lynn. He is survived by daughters Kim, Steph, Andrea, and Stacey. Also his brother Bill Hanson and sister Barbara Hamilton. He was blessed with 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. A celebration of Stephen's life will be held Saturday, February 23rd, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Osceola Country Club in Osceola, Iowa. A private family burial of his remains will be held at a later date in Eagle Grove, Iowa.

Des Moines Register -- Iowa
February 15, 2013

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Stephen L. Hanson was born January 29th, 1941 and passed from this earth on Tuesday, January 29th, 2013 near his home in St Joseph, Missouri at the age of exactly 72 years.

Stephen grew up in Eagle Grove Iowa and as a young boy was friends with a little girl who would one day become his wife. He graduated from Eagle Grove High School in 1959 and was united in marriage to Beverly Hinrichsen on January 30, 1960, a union that was blessed with 5 daughters.

Stephen attended Eagle Grove Community College following high school and later graduated from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. He attained a Master’s Degree from Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, Missouri.

Following college, Stephen taught school and coached high school basketball for many years and was the head boys’ basketball coach at Ballard of Huxley in Iowa and in Pana, Illinois. Stephen was an excellent teacher, coach, and mentor and to this day his daughters continue to hear from his former students that he was their ‘favorite teacher’. After teaching, Stephen moved his family to Osceola, Iowa and worked as a veterinary pharmaceutical sales rep. With his children raised, Stephen bought Beverly a home on Lovers Lane in St. Joseph, Missouri where he retired.

Stephen’s love of basketball was prominent throughout his life. He was a captain on his high school team in Eagle Grove, and continued playing at the college level at Eagle Grove Community College. Following his high school coaching career, Stephen spent many years in pick-up games in the gyms in Osceola where he made many friends. One year on his birthday his wife surprised him with a trip to Boston to watch his favorite team, the Celtics, play in the famed Boston Garden. Stephen and Beverly were also both avid lifetime Iowa Hawkeye fans and Stephen even named his dog ‘Hawkeye’. Stephen played, coached, and was a fan of the sport and did all very well and with great passion.

Stephen was preceded in death by his sister Marjorie Lynn, his parents, Otto and Ruth Hanson, his daughter Pam, and his beloved wife Beverly.

He is survived by members of his loving family:
Daughters Kim Cox (Rod) of Mattoon, Illinois; Stephanie Miller (Mark) of Winterset, Iowa; Andrea Andrew (Rod) of Ankeny, Iowa; and Stacey Farlow (Rick) of Osceola, Iowa. Grandchildren Nathan Freeman (Caycee Jones) of Pana, Illinois; Natalie Freeman of Pana, Illinois; Heather Steffens (Richie) of Des Moines, Iowa; Holly Miller of St. Louis, Missouri; Haley Aleman (Jon) of Ankeny, Iowa; Sydney Andrew of Ankeny, Iowa; Addison Farlow of Osceola, Iowa; Dustyn Farlow of Tucson, Arizona; Josh Miller of Des Moines, Iowa; Courtney Miller of Des Moines; Iowa, Kasey Bosler of Mattoon, Illinois; and Keri Cox of Mattoon, Illinois. Great Grandchildren Rhylee and Ashton Freeman, Zaiden Kauffman and Harper Aleman. Brother Bill Hanson (Sandy) of Waukee, Iowa; Sister Barbara Hamilton of St Joseph, Missouri.

A Celebration of Stephen’s life will be held Saturday, February 23rd, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Osceola Country Club in Osceola, Iowa. A private family burial of his remains will be held at a later date in Eagle Grove, Iowa. The family asks that in lieu of flowers or plants, donations be made to the Stephen L. Hanson Memorial Fund at Great Western Bank in Osceola, Iowa for a memorial to be determined at a later date.

Osceola Sentinel-Tribune --- Osceola, Iowa
February 14, 2013