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John N Hanson
Born: November 14th, 1925
Died: January 2nd, 2020
Obituary
Corpus Christi, TX - John Nicklas Hanson, 94, Corpus Christi, Texas, formerly of Burlington and Wapello, Iowa, died Jan. 2, 2020, at the Texas State Veterans Home, Amarillo, Texas.
John N. Hanson was born Nov. 14, 1925, in Burlington, Iowa, the second child and first son of John E. Hanson and Laurel Grace (Gaskell) Hanson. He was named for his father, John Hanson, and his paternal grandfather, Nicklas Hanson.
He attended one-room grade schools in New London and Yarmouth, Iowa, before his parents bought a farm near Wapello. He graduated from Wapello High School in 1943 as the class valedictorian. He attended the Cal-Aero Tech Institute in Pasadena, Calif., and served honorably in the U.S. Army.
He became a long-time traveler at the age of 1 ½ when he accompanied his parents on a year-long trip west after the death of his older sister, Grace Christine. The family traveled in a Model T and lived in a tent, while John E. Hanson worked the crops to support the family. It was not an easy trip as they often experienced three flat tires a day and the roads were all gravel and tires were often hub-deep in the mud.
They traveled from Iowa across Nebraska into Colorado and Montana, then returned through California and across Arizona and Texas into Louisiana, where a sister, Rosemary, was born. They then returned to Iowa to farm.
John N. Hanson continued traveling all his life, becoming both a commercial and transport pilot. He flew the European route over the Pacific for Riddle Airlines, the Asian route for NW Orient Airlines, across America with the Pacific Northern airline and in protection of the country by flying in the government-owned airline, Air America, which flew all over, many of which were clandestine missions.
He had wonderful funny stories when he chose to tell them. He returned to the U.S. in 1972, bought property and settled in Corpus Christi, Texas, where for many years he continued as a flight instructor at the Corpus Christi/Robstown Airport. Upon retirement, he happily worked in his yard and raised plumeria for his own enjoyment.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Laurel Hanson; two brothers, Frank Hanson, Wapello, Iowa, and David Hanson, Terre Haute, Ind.; two sisters, Grace Hanson, Burlington, Iowa, and Rosemary Hanson Aldrich, Denver, Colo., and great-grandnephew, Kash, Moorcroft, Wyo.
He is survived by his youngest sister, Joyce Sorensen, Cheyenne, Wyo.; two sisters-in-law, Marie Hanson, Wapello, and Alice Hanson, Terre Haute, Ind.; six nieces and nephews, John Richter, Cheyenne, Wyo.; Jeanette Forey and friend Bill, and children, Amarillo, Texas; Laurel (and Scott) Sowerwine and children, Phoenix, Ariz.; Stephen (and Lisa) Richter and children, Pine Haven, Wyo.; Paul (and Brenda) Richter, Lolo, Mont., and Melinda (and Jeff) Hanson Wichmann, Homestead, Iowa; eight grand-nieces and grand-nephews and three great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.
He has been cremated and will be interred beside his parents and sister Grace at Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa, at a future date.