John Kevin Hanse

John Kevin Hanes, of Beverly Hills, Florida, died December 21, 2020 at his home of natural causes, not COVID-19 related. John was born at the Paterson General Hospital, Paterson, New Jersey on December

4, 1950. His parents both deceased were Rev. John Chapman Hanse and Isabelle Maxwell Turnbull Hanse. Upon leaving the hospital with his parents he resided in Wanaque, New Jersey with his two older sisters.

John’s life had many interesting events, at age 3 he moved with his family to Oakland, California, the Sobrante Park area. While John’s formal education began on the West Coast it took several turns moving to the East Coast and ending in the Midwest. His education began at Sobrante Park Elementary School, Oakland, California followed by Alameda Christian Grammar, Alameda, California. Moving East it continued at North Fourth Street Christian Grammar School, North Haledon, New Jersey, next St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Paterson, New Jersey, and then Paterson Public Schools including school #24 and Eastside High School. John was a member of the Eastside High School Marching Band before moving to Michigan. He also played inter mural sports while at Eastside. His high school education was completed at Hamilton High, Hamilton, Michigan where John participated in Track and Field and competed in the Pole Vault event. He attended Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and spent a summer doing missionary work in Mexico. Completion of his bachelor’s degree occurred at Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa. He earned a BA in Education for Special Education but never used it.

He worked in several companies before becoming a buyer for Thermatron of Holland, Michigan. He continued as a buyer for Heath of Benton Harbor, Michigan then Sexton of Zeeland, Michigan. He worked hard and learned about environmental test chambers, with gained knowledge he began his own company, Hanse Environmental in Allegan, Michigan. He modified his chamber by adding vibration along with accelerated heating and cooling. These changes make his chambers unique. He was enormously proud of the chambers which are used to test parts for life expectancy. The company sells chambers to major companies like Hewlett Packard, Sony, Ford Motor Company just to name a few. Currently his youngest son, Peter runs the company. John traveled the world for his company. He invented several items for manufacturing and applied for several patents.

Giving back to others was one of John’s passions. He was involved in the daily care of physically and mentally challenged children. He and his wife, Norma, were foster parents to several handicapped children. He and his wife worked to establish a group home in Holland, Michigan for ARC. The home was started and there are now other adult group homes in Holland, Michigan because of his efforts. He was always involved in church activities with his family. Moving to Florida was a dream and upon becoming a resident he joined local organizations; Beverly Hills Irish Americans, Nature Coast Republicans, helping at Bingo for Citrus Springs Civic Association, Beverly Hills Craftsman’s Guild, Inc., and actively attending Beverly Hills Community Church, Beverly Hills, Florida. He may have had multiple medical needs, but he kept moving forward. He loved his new all-terrain electric chair and traveled within Beverly Hills area shopping and stopping to talk with neighbors. He loved to look for odd items at yard sales. He was always thinking of what he could make or how he could use something that might have been discarded.

Married life began in June 1970 with Norma Knoll. Together they were blessed with five children, Helen Dawn Boeve (John) of Zeeland, Michigan, John Henry Hanse (Leeann) of Allegan, Michigan, James Paul Hanse (Rev. Joline) of Valley City, North Dakota, Anne Marie Blaine of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and Peter Kenneth Hanse (Lydia) of Allegan, Michigan. He later married Christine Baughman of Detroit, Michigan and became the father to her daughter, Jennifer Baughman Martin of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Lastly, he married Carol Dunning of Clifton, New Jersey. Carol’s two children were already married so John was a stepfather in name only to John and Deborah. John leaves behind 16 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Left to cherish his memory are his sisters, Isabelle Hanse-Amundsen (Jeff) of Beverly Hills, Florida, Janet Hanse Barek (Paul) of Citrus Springs, Florida, and Joy Hanse Essenburg (Scott) of Holland, Michigan, his uncle, William C. Hanse (Barbara) of Wayne, New Jersey, and cousins Brian W. Hanse (Kathy), Pompton Plains, New Jersey, and Beverly Hanse Hubers (Michael) of Troy, Michigan.

Funeral arrangements are through Fero Funeral Home, 5955 N. Lecanto Highway, Beverly Hills, Florida (352)746-4551 Beverly Hills, Florida. There is a Celebration of Life planned for 11 AM on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at Beverly Hills Community Church, 82 Civic Circle, Beverly Hills, Florida. In lieu of flowers denotations can be made to Beverly Hills Community Church, 82 Civic Circle, Beverly Hills, Florida 34465.