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Larry A. Hanson

1939 - 2011

September 8, 1939 - October 19, 2011

Klemme, IA - Larry A. Hanson, 72, died Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011, in Mason City after a long battle with lung cancer. Funeral services will be Friday, Oct. 21, at 11 a.m. at the Klemme United Methodist Church with a visitation held one hour prior to service. The Rev. Janet Rieckhoff-Faris will be officiating the service. A visitation will be held Thursday, Oct. 20, from 5-7 p.m. at the Andrews Funeral Home in Klemme.

Larry Hanson was born to Lyle and Madeline (Bachman) Sept. 8, 1939, in Britt. Larry had two half-siblings, Cecil and Carol, and spent much of his time with his grandparents Willie and Rebecca Hanson. Larry learned at a young age his true passion of driving a semi truck. On May 24, 1956, Larry married Eva Thiemann in Council Bluffs. This marriage was blessed with six children: Barbara, Doug, Laura, Ken, Donna and Roger. The family lived in the Goodell/Belmond/Klemme area for many years except for two years spent in Colorado when the children were young.

Larry always loved being on the road, traveling from state to state with his case of Mountain Dew and Sneaker, his black Lab, by his side. He might not have followed every driving law in the book, in fact most of the time he merely considered them "suggestions." Larry knew his way around to circumvent almost every weigh station. Knowing how to get to the next load station through side roads he would call "squirrel trails" always trying to get by with that extra round bail of straw or load of grain that might have tipped the scales on the heavy side. Larry might not have been the ideal by-the-book trucker but he had a true calling for it. While working for Warren Transport, he received many awards including Driver of the Month. He always made his shipment of goods to the location where they needed to go in time. Larry knew the ways of the roads and in return he met numerous colleagues, friends and acquaintances and was known in most of the truck stops. He was always going out of his way to help a fellow trucker. He had numerous associates when driving cross-country that were hitchhikers, being persuaded to be his drivers for periods of time.

Larry had a life full of value and compassion. Some people saw his rough outer shell, others got the pleasure of seeing his warm, caring heart. Larry cared for his family and friends. He was always willing to help out a friend in need for anything he could do, even if it meant driving across the country. He loved his family dearly and enjoyed his grandkids' and great-grandkids' company. Larry's love surrounded not only mankind but his favorite canine companions, Sneaker and Kujo. Larry's caring heart was vast and deep.

Those left to cherish his memory include his children, daughter, Barbara Hanson, of Des Moines; sons, Douglas (Marla) Hanson, of Goodell, and Kenneth (Kelly) Hanson, of Meservey; daughter, Donna (Robert) Roe, of Des Moines; and son, Roger (Kay) Hanson, of Klemme; grandchildren Amber (Andy) Pavlovec, Jeff (Tierra) Hanson, John (Shana) Shafer, Jennie Shafer, April (Alan) Reynolds, Ben Hanson, Danielle Brooks, Megan (Brent) Willis, and Mathew Hanson; his great-grandchildren Evan Pavlovec, Riehle Pavlovec, Courtney Hanson, Hailey Hanson, Rylan Shafer, Phoenix Reynolds, Mackenzie Brooks and Austin Brooks.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lyle Hanson, his mother, Madeline Hymas, his step-mother Ila Hanson, daughter Laura Shafer, son-in-law Ed Shafer, grandson Jeremy Hanson, and his half-brother Cecil. Arrangements are being held by Andrews Funeral Homes Klemme, IA.


source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 21 Oct 2011

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