Obituary
Gerald (Jerry) Hanson of Kingston, IL entered life eternal with the Lord and the love of his life, Elizabeth on March 15, 2021. Jerry was born July 20, 1929 William Gerald Nelsen to Bertie and Nils Nelsen in Milwaukee, WI. As an infant he was adopted and named Gerald William Hanson by Gerhardt O. and Clara Hanson in Madison, Wisconsin where he attended public schools and graduated from Madison East High School where he was active in football, track, wrestling and boxing.
Jerry briefly attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa on a track scholarship before enlisting in the Air Force in 1949, he assisted in construction of the DEW radar system in the United States during the Korean Conflict. Previously he served in the U.S. Naval Reserves.
He married the love of his life, Elizabeth Morgan on October 16, 1954 in Elgin, Illinois at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin, Illinois. They raised their family there and Jerry worked at the Elgin Post Office as a clerk till his retirement in 1989.
Jerry had many hobbies – an avid fisherman turned ice fisherman in later years (he did not need a boat) and his great love of wood carving that he believes was a genetic gift from his biological father. He carved, birds, figurines and hundreds of crosses and gave them to Pastors serving overseas and to random people he met on the street or at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere.
Jerry was preceded in death by his Parents and Wife of 64 years. He is survived by two sons, Gary (Lisa) Hanson of Belvidere, Eric (Paula) Hanson of Elgin, four grandchildren Christian (Sara) Hanson of Rockford, Megan (Ted) Seele of Belvidere, Danielle (Rod) Hendrickson of Yorkville and Adam (Patricia) Kendall of Genoa. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews from his birth family as well as from Elizabeth’s family.
The visitation will take place on Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1045 Belvidere Road, Belvidere, IL. Please enter door 4 for visitation, due to state guidelines social distancing and facemasks require. The memorial service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the Church. Memorials may be made in his name to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Belvidere. To light a candle or share a condolence please visit www.AndersonFCS.com
