Erling Hanson
d. June 20, 2008
Erling Hanson, 93, of Manchester, Iowa died Friday, June 20, 2008, at the Good Neighbor Home, Manchester following a brief illness.
Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 23, 2008, at the First Lutheran Church, Manchester with Rev. Dr. Jean Rabary and Rev. Harlan Kaden officiating. Friends may call from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2008, at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester, and one hour before services at the church on Monday. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery, Manchester.
Erling was born in Ruthven, Iowa, October 19, 1914, to Clarence and Elsie (Nelson) Hanson. He attended rural schools in the Ruthven area until seventh grade when the family moved to Estherville where he graduated from Estherville High School in 1934. He attended a Estherville JC, then graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1938, with a Bachelor of Arts in instrumental and vocal music. He furthered his love of music with graduate work at Drake University and the University of Iowa. Erling served five school districts as music director for a total of 43 years, 33 of them at the West Delaware District. Erling taught in Adel, Earlham, West Liberty, and Ruthven and also farmed with his brother-in-law. He was a licensed radio operator and a radio announcer at the Spencer, Iowa radio station. He was married to Dorothy Smull on May 25, 1941, in Earlham, Iowa, where they were both teaching. The couple moved to Manchester in 1946, where they retired from teaching in 1979.
Besides the many school musical groups and individuals whom he taught, Erling was active with community musical groups. He directed the First Lutheran Church choir for 31 years, Delaware Community Choral Society, Delaware County Farm Bureau Chorus, and sing-alongs at Rotary Club. A leader in the organizations of which he was a member, Erling served as the first president of the Manchester Faculty Club; president of the Manchester Rotary Club; president of the Northeast Iowa Band Directors’ Association; State Chair of the National American School Band Directors; vice-president and secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Band Masters’ Association. He received national recognition in the SCHOOL MUSICIAN magazine, the Karl King Distinguished Service Award, and the local Chamber of Commerce plaque in 1962. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church, the Masonic Lodge, and the National Music Fraternity PhiMuEpsilon. The Hansons loved to travel, enjoyed flying, and was a collector of Crosley cars and some antique trucks.
Erling is survived by his wife, Dorothy Hanson of Manchester; two brothers, Ellsworth (Evelyn) Hanson of Tucson, Arizona and Arne (Ramona) Hanson of Ruthven, Iowa; several nieces and nephews; and many friends and former students.
Erling was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Elsie Hanson; and one brother, Carl Hanson.
Please sign our online guestbook for Erling at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 23, 2008, at the First Lutheran Church, Manchester with Rev. Dr. Jean Rabary and Rev. Harlan Kaden officiating. Friends may call from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2008, at the Bohnenkamp-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Manchester, and one hour before services at the church on Monday. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery, Manchester.
Erling was born in Ruthven, Iowa, October 19, 1914, to Clarence and Elsie (Nelson) Hanson. He attended rural schools in the Ruthven area until seventh grade when the family moved to Estherville where he graduated from Estherville High School in 1934. He attended a Estherville JC, then graduated from the University of Northern Iowa in 1938, with a Bachelor of Arts in instrumental and vocal music. He furthered his love of music with graduate work at Drake University and the University of Iowa. Erling served five school districts as music director for a total of 43 years, 33 of them at the West Delaware District. Erling taught in Adel, Earlham, West Liberty, and Ruthven and also farmed with his brother-in-law. He was a licensed radio operator and a radio announcer at the Spencer, Iowa radio station. He was married to Dorothy Smull on May 25, 1941, in Earlham, Iowa, where they were both teaching. The couple moved to Manchester in 1946, where they retired from teaching in 1979.
Besides the many school musical groups and individuals whom he taught, Erling was active with community musical groups. He directed the First Lutheran Church choir for 31 years, Delaware Community Choral Society, Delaware County Farm Bureau Chorus, and sing-alongs at Rotary Club. A leader in the organizations of which he was a member, Erling served as the first president of the Manchester Faculty Club; president of the Manchester Rotary Club; president of the Northeast Iowa Band Directors’ Association; State Chair of the National American School Band Directors; vice-president and secretary-treasurer of the Iowa Band Masters’ Association. He received national recognition in the SCHOOL MUSICIAN magazine, the Karl King Distinguished Service Award, and the local Chamber of Commerce plaque in 1962. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church, the Masonic Lodge, and the National Music Fraternity PhiMuEpsilon. The Hansons loved to travel, enjoyed flying, and was a collector of Crosley cars and some antique trucks.
Erling is survived by his wife, Dorothy Hanson of Manchester; two brothers, Ellsworth (Evelyn) Hanson of Tucson, Arizona and Arne (Ramona) Hanson of Ruthven, Iowa; several nieces and nephews; and many friends and former students.
Erling was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Elsie Hanson; and one brother, Carl Hanson.
Please sign our online guestbook for Erling at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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