Navigation

Obituary: Allen W. Hanson

Allen W. Hanson, 82, of Sturgeon Bay, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2017.  He was born December 30, 1934, at the Seul Choix Point Lighthouse in Gulliver, MI, where his father was a lighthouse keeper.  He was the son of William L. and Lena E. Hanson.  His family moved to Sturgeon Bay, WI when he was a young man where he attended Sturgeon Bay High School.  On November 26, 1960, he was united in marriage to Georgiana Bosman in Sturgeon Bay, WI.

Al enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, and was stationed on the aircraft carrier Intrepid in the Mediterranean Sea during the Korean War.  After his time in the service, he began to work at Roen Steamship in Sturgeon Bay where he worked his way up to become a Great Lakes tugboat captain on the John Purves.  He was also captain for Hannah Inland Waterways and Selvick Marine Towing and was a member and steward for the Licensed Tugmen.

He left sailing to spend more time with his family and worked at Door County Memorial Hospital.  He retired from the hospital after working for a number of years in the maintenance department.  During his life Al was a member of the Door County Maritime Museum, the Sturgeon Bay Yacht Club, the American Legion Post #72, and the Door Drifters.  Al’s favorite pass times were boating, snowmobiling, and motorcycling with many friends, as well as spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Georgiana; three children, Kelly (Dean) Tassoul, Lori (Ed) Harding, Scott (Jennifer) Hanson; grandchildren, Michael (Ashley) Tassoul, Ashley (special friend, Chris Payne) Tassoul, Derek (fiancé, Jessica Smith) Tassoul, Alex Tassoul (special friend, Claire Sedlacek), Tyler (special friend, Diana Flores) Vandertie, Zachary Harding, Mackenzie Harding, Lucy and Sam Hanson, and another grandson due in February; great-grandchildren, Aidan and Owen Tassoul, and another great-grandson due in March; two sisters, Luella Viste and June Hartel, Algoma; in-laws, Ruth Hanson, Black Creek, and Mary Ann Hanson, FL; Francis (Carol) Felhofer, Joanne Bosman, Peter (Mary) Bosman, all of Sturgeon Bay; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Willard, Harvey, James, and Floyd; sister, Sylvia Viste; brothers-in-law, Albert Hartel, Lawrence Viste, Gerry Bosman; sister-in-law, Margaret Hanson; and son-in-law, Scott Vandertie.

A memorial service with military honors will be conducted at Forbes Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay on Sunday, Feb.  19, 2017, at 5:30 p.m.  Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 3:00 p.m. until the time of service.  On-line condolences may be offered at forbesfuneralhome.com

The family would like to thank Northshore Health Services and Asera Care Hospice for their loving care and support.

Article Comments