John Howard Hanson, age 80, died on December 29, 2024, at Cedar Village, Ness City, Kansas.  He was born on January 27, 1944, in Garden City, Kansas, the son of Harold and Mildred (Rogers) Hanson.

John graduated from Garden City High School and then graduated from Garden City Community College.  He then went to work for the Ochs family farm where he worked for 25 years and raised cattle. After this he worked another 22 years at Boot Hill Feeders.

On September 17, 1965, he married Wanda Birnbaum in Utica, Kansas.  Together they made their home southwest of Jetmore where they raised their three children.

John loved being a dad and grandpa and taking his kids and grandkids fishing, one of his favorite pastimes. He enjoyed playing cards with his kids on his days off and even taught them to play poker with pennies. Being an avid fan of all things Western, John read books voraciously and after he retired, his favorite thing to do was to watch old Westerns on TV especially Gunsmoke. Pheasant hunting was also a favorite activity of John's and he enjoyed hunting with his brothers, kids, and grandkids.

John was proud of his Swedish heritage. He and Wanda attended the Hanson-Goodale family reunion faithfully. Keeping this family tradition alive was very important to him and he loved seeing his extended family whenever he could.

After he retired, he and Wanda made a home in Utica, Kansas and they enjoyed traveling. He loved feeding the birds in his yard, mowing the grass, and going to his grandchildren and great-grand children's school activities and games.

The people who knew John will remember him being a quiet man with a quick sense of humor. People said that when he said something, you better listen because it would always be good.

John is survived by his wife, Wanda, of 59 years, his son, Eric Hanson and his wife, Sheila, of Park City; two daughters, Laurie Bernbeck and her husband, Terry, of Utica and Cindy Rosebrook and her husband, Steve, of Topeka; two brothers, Duane Hanson of Rifle, Colorado and Dennis (Linda) Hanson of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas; 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a great granddaughter, Olivia Salmans, a sister, Rosalie Harlow, and a sister-in-law, Trudy Hanson.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2024, 2:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City.  Memorial contributions may be given to the Threads of Hope, Utica Fire Department, or Pheasants Forever.

Memories and words of support may be left for the family by writing in the guest book.