James “Jim” Hanson

Thursday, July 6, 2017 6:37 pm

James “Jim” Hanson, 83, of Decorah, died Wednesday, July 5, 2017, at Aase Haugen Senior Services. Funeral services were at 11 a.m., Monday, July 10, at the Glenwood Lutheran Church, 1197 Old Stage Road, with Rev. Stacey Nalean-Carlson presiding. Burial was in the Pontoppidan cemetery. Visitation was from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, July 9, at the Schluter Balik Funeral Home 604 South Avenue, Decorah, and also after 10 a.m. at the church Monday morning. Casket bearers were his grandsons. Honorary casket bearers were his granddaughters.

James Edward Hanson was born Oct. 11, 1933, the son of Emil and Melia (Thompson) Hanson, at home, in Winneshiek County. Jim was baptized and confirmed at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church. He attended country school through eighth grade. Jim farmed with his parents until 1957. He married Betty Thompson June 16, 1956, at the Decorah Lutheran Church. Together they had three children: Dave, Doug and Darryl. Jim continued to farm and he and Betty were able to purchase their own farm in 1969. Jim farmed with his boys until 1975, when he started doing construction work. In 1980, he started his own Log Home business. Jim built 50 custom log homes around the area, with the last one being for their best friends Ken and Jan Otteson in 1999. After retirement, Jim enjoyed building furniture, smoking meats, fishing, playing cards, and even took up golfing and made a hole-in-one. He and Betty moved to town in 2014, where he spent the last few years of his life enjoying time with his family. Jim was a gracious host and always greeted you with a smile. He was a great teacher, friend and smiling hero.

Jim is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty Hanson; three sons: Dave (Carol) Hanson, Decorah, Doug (Laurie) Hanson, Decorah and Darryl (special friend Tina Bappe) Hanson, Decorah; grandchildren: Mandy (Greg) Mueller, Decorah; Mitch (Erica) Hanson, Decorah; Chad (Shelly) Hanson, Clive; Jessica (Bill) Gass, Melcher-Dallas; Jon (Liz) Hanson, Dubuque; Sara (Keith) Faulkner, Dubuque; Breanna (friend Doug Champagne) Smith, Decorah; Tabby (Suzie) Spalj, Iowa City; Cody (friend Jared Medina) Hanson, Wichita, Kan.; Megan (friend Michelle Deppe) Hanson, Wichita, Kan.; Scott (Teesha) Helms, Decorah; Jarred Bappe, Decorah; great-grandchildren: Dominic, Danika, Austin, Mason, Elle, Landon, Bailey, Logan, Colt, Devin, Gabriel, Mikael, Samuel, Nathaniel, Caden, Caylee and Jaelyn; niece and nephew, Diane (Wayne) Roberts, Hardy, Ark.; Wayne (Linda) Hanson, Decorah; special friends, Ken (Jan) Otteson, Ridgeway.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Melia (Thompson) Hanson; sister, Helen (Kenneth) Hanson; father and mother-in-law, Arnold (Esther) Thompson; daughter-in-law, Karla Hanson.