He leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Rita J. (Christoffersen) Hanson of the home; his sister Mona Georgesen of Hubbard, NE; son Geoffrey J. Hanson (Stephanie); daughter Robin Paprocki (Jim) all of Omaha, Nebraska; three grandchildren: Robert E. Hanson of Omaha, Nebraska; Casey J. Paprocki of Miami, Florida; Jessica R. Paprocki of Omaha, Nebraska; one granddaughter-in-law Julie (grandson Geoff S. Hanson-deceased); and one great-granddaughter Isabella Hanson both of Omaha, Nebraska.
Gary was born on June 7, 1938 in Sioux City, Iowa to father Harold Carl Hanson and mother Roberta Lynn (Jones) Hanson, who both predeceased him. After high school Gary attended and graduated from the University of Nebraska in Omaha with a BA in Business Administration. In early 1961 Gary joined the Nebraska Army and Air Force National Guard and served honorably for 6-years.
Gary’s first career years began in the early 1960’s in Omaha where he was a Commercial Casualty Underwriter before being transferred to Kansas City in 1978 where he retired from the Insurance field after 20+ years. Not satisfied with true retirement, Gary became a Real Estate Broker, working for several agencies in the metro area before becoming semi-retired in 1997 when he began traveling with Rita to fulfill her Eastern Star Grand Chapter obligations.
Gary’s passion for Masonry began in 1962 in Mizpah Lodge #302 in Omaha. He found his niche for the fraternity with the Scottish Rite when he became Master of the Royal Secret, Valley of Omaha on April 25, 1968 transferring to the Valley of Kansas City in the early 1980’s where his journey continued when he received the Knight Commander of the Court of Honour in 1995 then served as Wise Master, Areiopagus Chapter of Rose Croix in 1997. Gary was awarded the coveted Inspector General Honorary (white hat) in 2007 as well as most recently the blue hat for having been in SR for over 50-years.
Gary requested cremation. A private interment will be held at a later date at the Jacksonville, Iowa Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Memorial services will be held on Sunday, August 12, 2018 at the Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131 with visitation from 2:00pm to 3:00pm and service to follow.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic, 1330 East Linwood Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64109 or the Masonic Youth Groups, checks payable to the Grand Chapter of Missouri, (with Gary J. Hanson written on the memo line), 6033 Masonic Drive, Suite C, Columbia, Missouri 65202.
