Roger H. Hanson

Roger H. Hanson, 89, of Kearney passed away peacefully Friday, April 18, 2014 at Good Samaritan Society – St. John’s in Kearney. Funeral services will be Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Kearney with Father Jerry Ness officiating. Visitation will be Monday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney. Burial with military rites provided by Kearney American Legion Post #52, Kearney V.F.W. Post # 759 and the Nebraska National Guard Military Honors Team will be at the Kearney Cemetery. Roger was born January 27, 1925 in Bertrand to Easton and Irene (Adkins) Hanson. Roger grew up in Loomis, NE. He graduated from Loomis High School in 1942. After high school he served in the US Army from 1945-1947. He later attended Kearney State Teachers College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1950 and participated in football and basketball programs. He later earned his master’s degree in 1957, and doctorate degree in educational administration in 1969 from the University of Nebraska. During his career in education, he taught and coached sports in Belvidere, NE, and worked as Superintendent of Schools in Lebanon, Gretna, Hebron, Broken Bow, and Silver Lake, Nebraska, Sheridan, Wyoming, and Aberdeen, South Dakota. He also worked for the Nebraska and Wyoming Departments of Education and taught at Kearney State College from 1978-1986. Roger married the love of his life, Yvonne C. Walker in 1948 in Kearney, Nebraska. They were happily married for 65 years. Roger was a member of the Nebraska State Educational Association, Nebraska Schoolmasters Association, AASA Century Club, American Legion Post #52, Masonic Lodge, Kearney Elks Lodge #984, Rotary, and was a Nebraska Navy Admiral. He attended church at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Family and education were very important to Roger. He enjoyed watching, participating and coaching all sports. Roger is survived by his wife, Yvonne; his daughters, Patricia (Gary) Nicholson of Beatrice, NE, Carol (Robert) Furniss of Stratton, NE, and Cynthia (Scott) Murphy of Kearney, NE; and sons R. Andrew (Vicki) Hanson of Kearney, NE, and Daniel (Barbara) Hanson of Broken Bow, NE; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-laws Delores Dobberstein, Darlene Hanson; brother-in-laws J. Harold Walker and Jerry Walker; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, his four brothers Charles Hanson, Sherrod Hanson, Raymond Hanson, and Eugene Hanson. In Lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the University of Nebraska to establish a scholarship for student’s pursuing a degree in educational administration. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a message of condolence, memory or tribute.

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Roger H. Hanson

January 27, 1925 - April 18, 2014