James E. H. Hanson
Porterville civic leader and centenarian James Hanson has died in Green Valley, Arizona, on January 11, 2013, at age 104. He relocated there from Porterville six years ago to be closer to family members.
Born in Calumet, Michigan on February 20, 1908 to Norwegian immigrant parents, Jim grew up in North Dakota and Astoria, Oregon, experiencing the hard life of homesteading. As a teenager, he finished school in Lindsay, learning the printing trade at the Lindsay Gazette, and attending Porterville College. He also worked in the technical departments of the Porterville Recorder and the Farm Tribune.
At age 18, he spent a year in Norway, becoming fluent in the language and making deep connections with his family there and the culture that exist to this day. His growing interest in international issues was reflected in his operating Porterville's first travel agency, initially more as a hobby and then full-time as a successful business with the assistance of his wife, Katherine, who died in 2001.
Jim was active in the community into his late 90s. He was elected to the City Council and regional school boards and provided leadership for Porterville Rotarians for many decades. He was club President and District Governor, and took the lead in implementing scholarships for young people of other countries to study in Porterville. Over the years, a number of exchange students lived in the Hanson home. He was a member of the First Methodist Church and Sons of Norway, delivered food to the elderly and supported the public library and domestic violence shelter. A lifelong learner, he learned to play bridge in his 70s, cook and bake in his 80's, and even took a class in doll-making in his 90s. He also mentored others in his business. He appreciated the natural beauty of Southern Arizona in recent years, comparing it favorably with the Sierras where he skied, hiked, and built a family cabin at Camp Nelson. In his final years in Arizona he kept up correspondence with family and friends and enjoyed reading and keeping abreast of current events in newspapers and television.
Having attained the great age of nearly 105, many, if not most, of his friends and family have predeceased him (parents, brothers, a sister, nephews, a niece; and his son Eric, who died in 1963). He is survived by a sister, Gladys Seaman, of Casa Grande, Arizona; a daughter, Karin Rodes, of Rio Rico, Arizona; a grandson, Erik Hilsdale, and his wife Susan Lato, of Sunnyvale, California; a granddaughter, Cecily Hilsdale, and her husband Jonathan Sachs, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins (including Ester Wiker Fletcher and her husband Norman of Fresno; Roger Brewton and his wife Liz Rush of Alameda, California; Gary and Dana Richardson of Colorado, and Keith Seaman of Casa Grande, Arizona, with wife Donna and daughter Stacey).
Jim directed that his body be used for medical research at the University of Arizona School of Medicine. A memorial celebration is being planned for July, 2013, in the Porterville/Lindsay area. Please contact Karin Rodes at [email protected] or 520.841.2448 for further information.
It was his request that any memorial contributions be sent to the St. Andrew's Children's Clinic in Nogales, Arizona, which provides free medical care for poor children living in Mexico (PO Box 67, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or on the web at www.standrewsclinic.org/donations).
Published in The Porterville Recorder from Jan. 18 to Jan. 19, 2013.
Porterville civic leader and centenarian James Hanson has died in Green Valley, Arizona, on January 11, 2013, at age 104. He relocated there from Porterville six years ago to be closer to family members.
Born in Calumet, Michigan on February 20, 1908 to Norwegian immigrant parents, Jim grew up in North Dakota and Astoria, Oregon, experiencing the hard life of homesteading. As a teenager, he finished school in Lindsay, learning the printing trade at the Lindsay Gazette, and attending Porterville College. He also worked in the technical departments of the Porterville Recorder and the Farm Tribune.
At age 18, he spent a year in Norway, becoming fluent in the language and making deep connections with his family there and the culture that exist to this day. His growing interest in international issues was reflected in his operating Porterville's first travel agency, initially more as a hobby and then full-time as a successful business with the assistance of his wife, Katherine, who died in 2001.
Jim was active in the community into his late 90s. He was elected to the City Council and regional school boards and provided leadership for Porterville Rotarians for many decades. He was club President and District Governor, and took the lead in implementing scholarships for young people of other countries to study in Porterville. Over the years, a number of exchange students lived in the Hanson home. He was a member of the First Methodist Church and Sons of Norway, delivered food to the elderly and supported the public library and domestic violence shelter. A lifelong learner, he learned to play bridge in his 70s, cook and bake in his 80's, and even took a class in doll-making in his 90s. He also mentored others in his business. He appreciated the natural beauty of Southern Arizona in recent years, comparing it favorably with the Sierras where he skied, hiked, and built a family cabin at Camp Nelson. In his final years in Arizona he kept up correspondence with family and friends and enjoyed reading and keeping abreast of current events in newspapers and television.
Having attained the great age of nearly 105, many, if not most, of his friends and family have predeceased him (parents, brothers, a sister, nephews, a niece; and his son Eric, who died in 1963). He is survived by a sister, Gladys Seaman, of Casa Grande, Arizona; a daughter, Karin Rodes, of Rio Rico, Arizona; a grandson, Erik Hilsdale, and his wife Susan Lato, of Sunnyvale, California; a granddaughter, Cecily Hilsdale, and her husband Jonathan Sachs, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins (including Ester Wiker Fletcher and her husband Norman of Fresno; Roger Brewton and his wife Liz Rush of Alameda, California; Gary and Dana Richardson of Colorado, and Keith Seaman of Casa Grande, Arizona, with wife Donna and daughter Stacey).
Jim directed that his body be used for medical research at the University of Arizona School of Medicine. A memorial celebration is being planned for July, 2013, in the Porterville/Lindsay area. Please contact Karin Rodes at [email protected] or 520.841.2448 for further information.
It was his request that any memorial contributions be sent to the St. Andrew's Children's Clinic in Nogales, Arizona, which provides free medical care for poor children living in Mexico (PO Box 67, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or on the web at www.standrewsclinic.org/donations).
Published in The Porterville Recorder from Jan. 18 to Jan. 19, 2013.
James E. H. Hanson
Porterville civic leader and centenarian James Hanson has died in Green Valley, Arizona, on January 11, 2013, at age 104. He relocated there from Porterville six years ago to be closer to family members.
Born in Calumet, Michigan on February 20, 1908 to Norwegian immigrant parents, Jim grew up in North Dakota and Astoria, Oregon, experiencing the hard life of homesteading. As a teenager, he finished school in Lindsay, learning the printing trade at the Lindsay Gazette, and attending Porterville College. He also worked in the technical departments of the Porterville Recorder and the Farm Tribune.
At age 18, he spent a year in Norway, becoming fluent in the language and making deep connections with his family there and the culture that exist to this day. His growing interest in international issues was reflected in his operating Porterville's first travel agency, initially more as a hobby and then full-time as a successful business with the assistance of his wife, Katherine, who died in 2001.
Jim was active in the community into his late 90s. He was elected to the City Council and regional school boards and provided leadership for Porterville Rotarians for many decades. He was club President and District Governor, and took the lead in implementing scholarships for young people of other countries to study in Porterville. Over the years, a number of exchange students lived in the Hanson home. He was a member of the First Methodist Church and Sons of Norway, delivered food to the elderly and supported the public library and domestic violence shelter. A lifelong learner, he learned to play bridge in his 70s, cook and bake in his 80's, and even took a class in doll-making in his 90s. He also mentored others in his business. He appreciated the natural beauty of Southern Arizona in recent years, comparing it favorably with the Sierras where he skied, hiked, and built a family cabin at Camp Nelson. In his final years in Arizona he kept up correspondence with family and friends and enjoyed reading and keeping abreast of current events in newspapers and television.
Having attained the great age of nearly 105, many, if not most, of his friends and family have predeceased him (parents, brothers, a sister, nephews, a niece; and his son Eric, who died in 1963). He is survived by a sister, Gladys Seaman, of Casa Grande, Arizona; a daughter, Karin Rodes, of Rio Rico, Arizona; a grandson, Erik Hilsdale, and his wife Susan Lato, of Sunnyvale, California; a granddaughter, Cecily Hilsdale, and her husband Jonathan Sachs, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins (including Ester Wiker Fletcher and her husband Norman of Fresno; Roger Brewton and his wife Liz Rush of Alameda, California; Gary and Dana Richardson of Colorado, and Keith Seaman of Casa Grande, Arizona, with wife Donna and daughter Stacey).
Jim directed that his body be used for medical research at the University of Arizona School of Medicine. A memorial celebration is being planned for July, 2013, in the Porterville/Lindsay area. Please contact Karin Rodes at [email protected] or 520.841.2448 for further information.
It was his request that any memorial contributions be sent to the St. Andrew's Children's Clinic in Nogales, Arizona, which provides free medical care for poor children living in Mexico (PO Box 67, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or on the web at www.standrewsclinic.org/donations).
Published in The Porterville Recorder from Jan. 18 to Jan. 19, 2013.
Porterville civic leader and centenarian James Hanson has died in Green Valley, Arizona, on January 11, 2013, at age 104. He relocated there from Porterville six years ago to be closer to family members.
Born in Calumet, Michigan on February 20, 1908 to Norwegian immigrant parents, Jim grew up in North Dakota and Astoria, Oregon, experiencing the hard life of homesteading. As a teenager, he finished school in Lindsay, learning the printing trade at the Lindsay Gazette, and attending Porterville College. He also worked in the technical departments of the Porterville Recorder and the Farm Tribune.
At age 18, he spent a year in Norway, becoming fluent in the language and making deep connections with his family there and the culture that exist to this day. His growing interest in international issues was reflected in his operating Porterville's first travel agency, initially more as a hobby and then full-time as a successful business with the assistance of his wife, Katherine, who died in 2001.
Jim was active in the community into his late 90s. He was elected to the City Council and regional school boards and provided leadership for Porterville Rotarians for many decades. He was club President and District Governor, and took the lead in implementing scholarships for young people of other countries to study in Porterville. Over the years, a number of exchange students lived in the Hanson home. He was a member of the First Methodist Church and Sons of Norway, delivered food to the elderly and supported the public library and domestic violence shelter. A lifelong learner, he learned to play bridge in his 70s, cook and bake in his 80's, and even took a class in doll-making in his 90s. He also mentored others in his business. He appreciated the natural beauty of Southern Arizona in recent years, comparing it favorably with the Sierras where he skied, hiked, and built a family cabin at Camp Nelson. In his final years in Arizona he kept up correspondence with family and friends and enjoyed reading and keeping abreast of current events in newspapers and television.
Having attained the great age of nearly 105, many, if not most, of his friends and family have predeceased him (parents, brothers, a sister, nephews, a niece; and his son Eric, who died in 1963). He is survived by a sister, Gladys Seaman, of Casa Grande, Arizona; a daughter, Karin Rodes, of Rio Rico, Arizona; a grandson, Erik Hilsdale, and his wife Susan Lato, of Sunnyvale, California; a granddaughter, Cecily Hilsdale, and her husband Jonathan Sachs, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins (including Ester Wiker Fletcher and her husband Norman of Fresno; Roger Brewton and his wife Liz Rush of Alameda, California; Gary and Dana Richardson of Colorado, and Keith Seaman of Casa Grande, Arizona, with wife Donna and daughter Stacey).
Jim directed that his body be used for medical research at the University of Arizona School of Medicine. A memorial celebration is being planned for July, 2013, in the Porterville/Lindsay area. Please contact Karin Rodes at [email protected] or 520.841.2448 for further information.
It was his request that any memorial contributions be sent to the St. Andrew's Children's Clinic in Nogales, Arizona, which provides free medical care for poor children living in Mexico (PO Box 67, Green Valley, AZ 85622 or on the web at www.standrewsclinic.org/donations).
Published in The Porterville Recorder from Jan. 18 to Jan. 19, 2013.
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