Print This Obituary

Donald (“Don” or “Donnie”) Irving Hanson, Jr. of Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, and Leesburg, Florida, passed away on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, with his daughter at his side.

Don was an avid fisherman, hunter, trapper, father, brother, and friend.

He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on May 10, 1940, and served in the U.S. Navy from 1958-1962. Don worked at Winnebago Mental Health Institute for many years and used to own Hanson’s Bar in Omro with his brother Lynn. He retired at the young age of 52. During retirement, he was a fishing guide almost every summer at Clark’s Resorts and Outposts in Ontario, Canada. He enjoyed spending time in Canada with Kathy, his mom, Lonny and Cherrie and all of his Clark family. They made shirts for everyone that said, “When they see me, they surrender” with a picture of him pointing to the fish. In addition, he spent much of his time fishing in Omro, Wisconsin, and in the Northwoods during the warmer months and in Florida during the winter. If he caught you in his fishing spot, you better move out of the way, or he would be sure to tell you to. Up North, he enjoyed watching for the bear and deer to come in. When he was in high school, his parents thought he went to school. He would leave and go home and get his fishing poles and go fishing.

Don was the son of the late Verna and Donald Hanson Sr. from Omro, Wisconsin.

He leaves behind his girlfriend of 43 years, Kathy Hales; and her children, Tony and Tracey; his brothers, Lonnie (Cherrie) and Lynn (Carole); his sisters, Shirley Rhymer and Nancy (Lou) Liggio; a daughter, Michele (Tom) Tuchscherer, a son, Kurt (Jamie) Hanson. He also leaves behind his granddaughter and grandson, Kayla (Connor) Bloede, and Ryan (Brooke) Bloede.

Besides his parents, Don was also preceded in death by a son, Eric Hanson; and his brothers-in-law, Jigs Rhymer and Gary Schnieder; and a sister-in-law, Judy Hanson.

Donnie’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to his Florida family for taking exceptional care of him and being there for him while he was at his winter home, especially Joe and Connie Young, he treasured their friendship deeply. He enjoyed spending time with them and the rest of his Florida family and Friday Fish Fries in Florida won’t be quite the same anymore. He looked forward to being with his extended family and he made sure to always hide an extra piece of pie that Joanne and Paula made before it was gone.

Don did not wish to have a funeral upon his passing, and his wishes will be respected. We would encourage his friends to get together and have their own Celebration of Life for him, to share memories and swap stories of how he touched their lives. Be sure to toast a brandy and 7 in his memory.

A private interment with military honors will be held at the Omro Cemetery.

Mueller Funeral Home-Winneconne is assisting the family. If you wish, please submit online condolences/memories to muellerfh.net.