Obituary of Carl M. Hanson

Carl Hanson, of 3586 Lakeridge Drive in Jamestown, New York, died peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning, September 11, 2016, in the Jamestown WCA Hospital. He was born on February 1, 1920, in Wakefield, Michigan, the son of Albert and Olga Thompson Hanson. Carl lived his early years in Wakefield, Michigan, where he often described life as being one of nine months of winter and three months of bad sleigh riding. In 1943, he graduated from the University of Minnesota with his bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering. During World War II, Carl served in the U.S. Navy, doing design work on military aircraft. Following the war, he worked six years at a NASA research facility in California, where he helped to develop the first successful wind tunnel to test model aircraft flying at the speed of sound. After leaving NASA, Carl spent the next 22 years in private industry, working on various aircraft, including among others the original designs of the F-5 fighter plane, as well as the Saturn program for the original manned space laboratory and the Thor-Delta missile and launch vehicle. This was followed by an additional 17 years of dedicated service as a federal employee, assigned first to a joint Navy/Air Force airborne, self-protection jamming program and later to the F-18 fighter and reconnaissance aircraft program while at NAVAIR. Over his long career, Carl also spent several years as a self-employed manager of a combination art gallery/ framing shop, as well as co-owner of a decorator/ design shop while living in Hampton Roads, Virginia. In retirement, he continued his life-long penchant for developing new and novel ideas, saying he was constantly challenged to improve even the simplest items, including the every-day, common straight pin. By family and close friends, Carl will be especially remembered for his gentle and caring ways. He was often described by people who knew him well as a truly, gentle man. He liked good conversation and was a great listener, especially for people he respected. Carl was a life-long Lutheran, most recently belonging to the Family of Life (Holy Trinity) Church in Jamestown. He also had received the Thirty-second Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish of Freemasonry, and had been in earlier years an active Masonic member. During his career, he also had been a dedicated member of the AAIA, the professional organization for aeronautical engineers. Carl is survived by his wife, Ann Lawson Hanson, of nearly 37 years, as well as a daughter, Laurel Bishop, of Virginia Beach, Virginia; a grandson, Jonathan O'Neill, also of Virginia Beach; and a granddaughter, Jennifer O'Neill, of Richmond, Virginia. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Scott Hanson, and a daughter, Heidi Hanson, as well as two brothers, Alvin Hanson and Arnold Hanson, and two sisters, Hope Venema and Faith Laurila. Following Carl's wishes, no funeral service or visitation is planned. Any memorial in his name can be made to the Jamestown Salvation Army, 83 South Main Street, Jamestown, New York, where he faithfully volunteered as a Red Kettle worker during the last several Christmas seasons. You may leave a condolence to Carl's family at www.lindfuneralhome.com.