Andrew Leo Hanson, Jr.

Andrew Leo “Al” Hanson, 89, of Woodstock, Georgia, passed away peacefully on November 21, 2025.

Born July 23, 1936, in Elyria, Ohio, to Andrew Leo Hanson and Mary Puishis Hanson, Al grew up in Wooster, Ohio, and graduated from Wooster High School. He went on to study at Ohio University and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Ashland College.

While living and working in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1966, Al met Cheryl Alter when living in the same apartment complex. They married on June 1, 1968, and moved to Farmington Hills, where their daughter Alicia was born. In 1975 the family settled in Northville, Michigan, and shortly thereafter welcomed their son, Derek. They remained in Northville until retiring to Estero, Florida, in 2000.

In 1974, Al founded HALT Fire Incorporated, where he built a team to proudly supply fire trucks, ambulances and safety equipment to fire departments throughout Michigan.An enthusiastic golfer and lifelong athlete, Al was a longtime member of Meadowbrook Country Club in Northville and later Pelican Sound Golf & River Club in Estero. Family was always his greatest joy and highest priority.

Cheryl passed away in 2015 after 47 cherished years of marriage. In the years that followed, Al was blessed to meet Lita Bookland at a widows’ group gathering. They quickly became “two peas in a pod” and married in 2019.Together they filled their days as active members of their Woodstock neighborhood, the Jaguar Club, traveling and as members of numerous social groups.

Al will be remembered for his sense of humor, his athletic grace, his outgoing warmth, and the way he made everyone around him feel like family. He is survived by his loving wife, Lita Bookland Hanson; his children, Alicia (David) Harwell of Marietta, Georgia, and Derek Hanson of Castle Rock, Colorado; his adored grandchildren, Liam Harwell and Colette Harwell of Marietta, Georgia, and Bryce Hanson of Castle Rock, Colorado; his stepson, Kenneth (Shanie) Bookland and their children, Kennedy, Kylee and Ace of Marietta, Georgia. Al was preceded in death by his first wife, Cheryl, his parents and sister, Rita Joyce Swinehart.

A memorial service celebrating Al’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 15, 2025, at Poole Funeral Home, 1970 Eagle Drive, Woodstock, GA 30189.