Robert Duane Hanson, 83, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away Sunday morning, Sept. 5, 2021.
He was born March 17, 1938 in Hampton, Iowa, the third son of four children of Russell and Hilda (Behn) Hanson of Latimer, Iowa.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Maurice Hanson of Waterloo, Iowa, his brother, Richard Hanson of Colorado Springs, Colo., and his sister, Virginia of Shertz, Texas.
Robert was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Latimer, Iowa, where he also lived and attended school, graduating in 1956 from Franklin Consolidated High School. His lifelong love affair with classical piano music began when he learned to play the piano during this time. At the age of 16, he earned his first pilot’s license and eventually became both a commercial pilot and a pilot instructor.
In 1957, he enlisted in the Air Force, serving at Kessler AFB, McCord AFB, and Druex AFB in France.
After serving his country, he worked for Martin Marietta in Denver, where he met his future wife, Janice K. (Klotz) Hanson. They were married on Aug. 25, 1962, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Norton. His employment opportunities led him to work in both Wichita for Martin Marrietta, and Las Cruces, N.M., for a NASA contractor at White Sands Missile Range. He was proud to be one tiny cog in the great machine that culminated in Apollo 11’s successful achievement of man’s first landing on the moon.
Then a major life change occurred. In 1974, with no prior experience, he decided to move his family to Norton, and become a farmer alongside his father-in-law, Martin Klotz. It was a wonderful place to raise his family, and being a devout Christian father, led his family in attending Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in Norton.
After the death of his wife in 2008 and mother-in-law, Laurena Klotz, life led him to move to Kansas City, Mo., to live with his son where he quietly lived out the rest of his days, enjoying visits with his children and grandchildren, attending Mt. Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church, and having insightful life discussions with his family. His lifelong love of classical piano music and flying never diminished.
Survivors include his daughter, Susan A. Shilling and husband Greg of Westphalia, daughter Yvonne L. Beer and husband Mark of Dayton, Ohio, and son, Stephen Hanson of Kansas City, Mo. He was the beloved grandfather to Matthew Beer of Schenectady, N.Y., Bethany Beer of Dayton, Ohio, Camille Shilling of Redwing, Minn., and Cameron Shilling of Westphalia.