Carl J. Hanson Jr.

Carl J. Hanson Jr., 84, of Sioux City passed away Saturday, May 2, 2009, in Sioux Falls, S.D., following a brief illness.

Services will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Martha Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Carl was born Feb. 21, 1925, in Sioux City, the son of Carl Hanson Sr. and Vera Irwin Hanson. He graduated from Central High School after serving during World War II in the U.S. Navy Sea Bees. He received the Navy Combat Action Ribbon, the Presidential Unit Citation Bronze Star, the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, two Bronze Stars, the World War II Victory Medal, along with other ribbons. He was attached to the First Marine Division at Peleliu. He was a member of VFW Post 1973, Sgt. Floyd Post.

He married Dorothy Mae Sparks on Oct. 20, 1950, and resided in Sioux City most of his life. He was a member of Trimble United Methodist Church. He was a retiree of Swift and Company.

Carl earned his private pilot's license at the age of 63 and enjoyed flying out of Martin's Airport and participating in the Experimental Aircraft Association Challenger One.

Survivors include two daughters, Norma Hanson and Al Emerson of Sioux City, and Janet Hanson Jelken and Eric of Sioux Falls; three grandchildren, Michael Jelken and Jenny of Dakota Dunes, Leah Jelken Roozeboom and Josh of Davenport, Iowa, and Beth Jelken Brynjulson and Tony of Sioux Falls; two great-grandchildren, Abigail and Ashton Roozeboom of Davenport; and dear friends, Pat LaVelle of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Mark and Adelle LaVelle of Sioux City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Hanson Sr. and Vera Irwin Witham; his sister, Georgia; his spouse, Dorothy Sparks Hanson; and two children, Debra Ann Hanson and Gail Maureen Hanson.

He was a devoted husband, father and friend and will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.