James L. Hanson

James “Jim” LeRoy Hanson, 75, of Clear Lake, died Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016, at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa from pancreatic cancer.

A gathering of family and friends was held on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake.  Military honors were provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W.  Inurnment will be at a later time in the Clear Lake Cemetery.  Family suggests memorials to James L. Hanson memorial fund.

Jim was born Feb. 18, 1940 in Waterloo, Iowa the son of LeRoy and Anna Mae (Louloff) Hanson.  At an early age his father passed away while serving in the Navy during war times.

He grew up on his grandparent’s farm, until his mother married Don Schmitz and they then moved to Jesup, Iowa.  He attended school in Jesup.

He went or work for John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa until he enlisted in the United States Navy and served during the Vietnam War.

He moved to Mason City following the service and went to work for Good Year Tire.  He married Julie Kramer on Oct. 20, 1965, in Sioux Falls, S.D. They moved to Oelwein, Iowa where he was service manager at the Good Year Tire Store.  He later went to work at the Union 76 Station in Altoona, Iowa as service manager.

He started his law enforcement career in 1974 serving at Mitchellville and Bondurant and In 1976 they moved to Clear Lake where he served on the Clear Lake Police Dept. until he retired in 1998.

He enjoyed driving his truck around the lake and especially detailing his truck and everybody elses.  He drove street stock #10 for many years in Mason City and Webster City.  He enjoyed meeting his 3 p.m. group at the Clear Lake V.F.W.  He was a Life member of the Clear Lake V.F.W.

He is survived by his wife, Julie Hanson, Clear Lake; two children, Kim (Cole) Christy, Clear Lake, and Todd (Tracey) Hanson, Clear Lake; four grandchildren, Cody Christy, Tyler Christy, Haley (Alex) Hanson and Lauren Hanson; one great-grandson, Kade James Hanson; three brothers, Gene Hanson, Evansdale, Iowa, Bud (Diane) Hanson, Waterloo, Iowa and Steve (Barb) Schmitz, Waterloo; two brother-in-laws, Larry (Joan) Kramer, Poulsbo, Wash. and George (Mary) Kramer, Baudette, Minn.; two sister-in-laws, Janice (Gary) Lemon, Fairmont, Minn. and Joyce (Jim) Pruismann, Altoona; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, LeRoy and Anna Mae Hanson; stepfather, Don Schmitz; granddaughter, Kaitlin Hanson; his sister, Shirley Hampton;  mother and father-in-law, Harold and Alice Kramer; brother-in-law, Dennis Kramer and sister-in-law, JoAnn Kalvig.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.