Dean Hanson

Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary 2060 Commerce Drive North Mankato, MN 56003 (507) 388-2288 Dean Douglas Hanson, 72, of Lake Crystal, Minnesota, went to the house of the lord peacefully at home on October 11, 2014 surrounded by his loving family after a nineteen year battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, October 16, 2014 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Mankato with Fr. Tim Biren, officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., with a 7 p.m., prayer service, Wednesday at Northview - North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato and will continue one hour before service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Mankato. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Andreas Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato - Hospice, or an organization of the donor's choice. Dean was born at Immanuel Hospital Mankato and grew up in Lake Crystal on the family farm where they harvested corn, soy beans and processed dairy. Dean believed that nothing came without hard work, sacrifice and perseverance. Throughout high school, and to make extra money, Dean worked for many of the farmers in Butternut supplying help to their farms where needed. Dean attended school in Lake Crystal and was the captain of his high school wrestling team. Dean's competitiveness and willingness to be the very best provided him the strength and courage to wrestle his way to compete in state competitions twice. As a result, it is no surprise that Dean's nick name in high school was OX. That nick name remained with Dean throughout high school and his wrestling years and even made it to the fenders of his 1953 Chevy convertible. During his life Dean enjoyed anything mechanical and spent a short time with North Star Concrete and Miller Motors before joining Chicago Northwestern/Union Pacific rail road. Dean spent 42 dedicated years on the rail road providing service to Minnesota as a MIC. A significant achievement was to receive status and be recognized as a specialist in his field working in conjunction with Berg N Hen on major catastrophic derailments until retirement at age 60. Failing the concept of retirement, and only after a week, he joined the family at Mankato Implement in the CP division where he remained for the past 12 years fostering many lifelong friendships. Many of Dean's outside enjoyments included watersports, fishing, trapping, snowmobiling, truck pulling, drag racing and corvette runs. Dean loved being in his garage building, tinkering, fixing or outside maintaining his lawn with the forth love of his life, his John Deer Tractor. Dean was the master of looking for ways to make the job easier. Snowmobile racing became very significant in Deans young adult life. Together with his brother Larry and Harlan Lanz a well-known team was formed called Minneopa Power Sports and for 15 years they spent countless hours, days and weeks building the most competitive snowmobiles racing throughout the United States and Canada while winning many championships. Dean will forever be missed by his family and friends. His spirit will continue to live on in each of us. Maybe your memories about Dean will include breakfast at the drive thru or delivery at the office without notice or lunch on him or the one that offered wisdom or guidance even when you did not ask. I bet it was the many cups of coffee that came while sharing life experiences or the shoulder at a critical time in your life. Whatever your experience was, Dean will be best known for his smiling face and happy, helpful spirit. As a remembrance, and to continue his legacy, it is only fitting that we ask you to pay his good deeds forward so that his spirit will continue to live in each us. He may not have been able to change the world; he will leave a significant mark that will be remembered forever. Dean is survived by his wife of 26 years, Donna Ehlers Hanson; daughter, Robin (David) Hanson Beaulieu; daughters, Barb Hanson, Jodie Kral, Angelic Parkes; son, Jamie Hanson; grandchildren, Mikayla, Brent, Katelyn and Riley; sister, Connie Hanson and brother, Larry (Joy) Hanson; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law. Dean was preceded in death by parents, Marlowe and Ethel Hanson; step father, Dave Evans; and son, baby Dean Hanson.