John ""Gil"" Hanson

Mr. John "Gil" Hanson, age 88 years, of South Peabody, died Tuesday Oct. 13, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House, surrounded by his family, after a lengthy illness. He was the husband of Ruth (Wood) Hanson, with whom he shared 60 years of marriage. Born in Lynn he was the son of the late Einar and Esther M. (Strom) Hanson. He attended Lynn schools and graduated from Lynn Classical High School, Class of 1939. Mr. Hanson served in the U. S. Army throughout Europe and the Pacific during WW II, for which service he received the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with a Bronze Star, Honorable Service, and Expert Badge with Rifle Bar. Mr. Hanson was employed at the General Electric as a Tool Maker and then an Area Planner for 42 years until he retired in 1982. He loved vacationing at Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire. He also enjoyed dancing to Big Band music, fishing, skiing, Sailing, water skiing, bowling, cribbage, chess, and gardening. He loved the New England Patriots, the Boston Red Sox, and watching Tiger Woods play golf, an animal lover, and after he retired and avid woodworker. He was proud of his Swedish heritage and looked forward to a Swedish Smorgasbord every Christmas Eve. In addition to his wife he is survived by one daughter Lisa Hanson (Churchill) of Peabody, one son Myles and his wife Susan Hanson of N. Andover, four grandchildren David, Sarah, Andrew, and Matthew Hanson all of N. Andover, one sister Bernice "Bunny" and her husband Roy Pearson of Swampscott, He was also the grandfather of the late twins Julia Ruth Churchill, and Jake Orion Churchill, and brother of the late Robert Hanson of Lynn. Service Details: Graveside Memorial services will be held at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Peabody on Tuesday at 1:00 PM to which relatives and friends are invited to attend. Memorial donations in Gil's memory may be made to North Shore Feline Rescue PO Box 1263 Middleton, MA 01949.