- Date Of Birth: January 9, 1923
- Date Of Death: July 3, 2014
- State: Illinois
Percival “Percy” Leland Hanson, 91, passed away suddenly on Thursday, July 3, 2014, at his home in Jacksonville.
He was born January 9, 1923, in Perry Township, Dane County, WI, the son of Alvin E. and Beatrice Hustad Hanson. He married Elaine Becker on June 21, 1952, in Richland Center, WI and she survives.
He is also survived by his children, Heidi Hanson of Columbia, MD, Holly Van Ness of Pekin, IL, Ivy Hanson of Minneapolis, MN and Andrew Hanson of Jacksonville; five grandchildren, Katie and Sarah LePoer of Columbia, MD and John, Summer Grace and Kate Anderson of Minneapolis, MN; two brothers, Alvin (Gwen) Hanson of Two Rivers, WI and Eugene (Mary) Hanson of Excelsior Springs, MO; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Harriet Pendleton and two brothers, Tenner and Donald (surviving wife Wava of Sun Prairie, WI) Hanson.
He was a proud World War II veteran who served in the European, Pacific and American theaters as a Technical Sergeant in the Army Air Force completing 27 missions in B-17’s in the European theater before joining a B-29 crew and flying in the Pacific theater through the end of the war. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and numerous campaign medals and was recently awarded France’s highest honor–Knight of the Legion of Honor–for his service contributions that led to the liberation of France.
Percy graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Platteville with a degree in agriculture. He served as an on-the-farm veteran trainer, taught agriculture and farmed in Wisconsin before joining DeKalb Agriculture in 1960. He went on to work for numerous agricultural companies in Indiana and Illinois in a career that spanned over 50 years, retiring from Moews Seed Company in 2009.
He loved to travel, golf and was active in both his B-17 and B-29 squadron reunions. His greatest love though was for his family and he treasured his 62 year marriage with his wife and cherished all his children and grandchildren.
