Dr. David Paul Hanson

To view the service remotely, go to: https://www.ascensiongb.com/worshipservices
Scroll down to see upcoming live-stream window. Ascension’s website will show the livestream link to the funeral service on the morning of Tuesday, Aug 16. Those wishing to live-stream should click on the funeral service link about 10 minutes before 11am CST to hear prelude and Helen’s remarks.

Dr. David Paul Hanson passed away on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at age 92 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Born and raised in Brooklyn to Ralph and Dorothy Hanson, he was a devoted family man and educator. He is survived by his beloved wife, Helen (Green Bay), daughter Lora Hanson Warner (Steve), grandsons Paul Hanson Warner (Tiffani, Salt Lake City) and Benjamin John Warner (Denver), and son-in-law Randy Doughty, husband of their late daughter Wendy. He is further survived by cousins, nieces and nephews, and brothers- and sisters-in-law.

Dave often told stories about growing up as a kid on the streets of Brooklyn during the Great Depression. He sang in an Episcopal boy choir, played basketball, and rode the subway with his brother and friends. As an adult, Dave lived for many happy years in Pennsylvania and Virginia. He especially cherished his times visiting their cottage in the Pocono Mountains and living in Boalsburg, PA. He has maintained relationships with lasting friends from all the places he has lived. Dave graduated from Hope College in 1953 in Holland, Michigan where he met his wife, Helen, whom he married in 1956. He served in the Army for two years during the Korean War.

Dave was a devoted husband of Helen for 66 years and they built a strong partnership and a good life together. He supported his wife in her career and interests, nursing her through a serious illness in the early 1980s. Together, they enjoyed playing bridge with friends, travel, attending shows, watching baseball, and spending time with family.

Dave was especially proud of his career accomplishments. He earned his master's degree in Counseling and Psychology and a doctorate from Rutgers in School Psychology. After five years of practice, Dave pursued his dream to develop educational programs in the field of School Psychology. This became his life’s work and he contributed greatly to the field by training well-prepared graduates. He initiated new graduate programs at Edinboro State University (PA) and later, James Madison University (VA). His future son-in-law, Steve, was one of his graduate students in whom he took enormous pride. He loved to hear Steve share stories about his work and compare notes. Dave was a leader in the National Association of School Psychologists.

David was a supportive, involved father with his two daughters, Lora and Wendy. He and Helen instilled a commitment to education, hard work, family, and community. He spent hours with them playing catch and basketball in the back yard – helping Lora to perfect her foul shot. They acquired his love of gardening, song, ping pong, and good citizenship. He was heartbroken when daughter Wendy passed away in 2019.

Dave loved being a grandfather to Paul and Ben through the years, including a rented limo trip to NYC from Philadelphia and another to Punta Cana. He mentored them in their early careers and always made them laugh at his silliness. He is proud of the young men they have become and although they have always lived far from each other, they have maintained close relationships.

Dave was healthy and fit for most of his life except for two bouts with cancer which began in 2004. He sang tenor in various choirs for many years – despite the fact that he could not read music. He loved to garden and in his last three or four homes, despite rules about not planting gardens, Dave planted his own tomatoes or green beans behind the shrubs or below the apartment balcony, where he could water the plants from 12’ above. Dave was a talented ping pong player until age 90 and was known in Boalsburg as ‘The Commissioner’ of the group he started. After moving to Green Bay, Dave and Lora explored their ancestry, tracing roots back to England in the 1100’s, the Mayflower, and U.S. wars. In doing so, Dave was moved to tell many more stories of the people in his life. This was a beautiful bookend to a long and interesting life.

The family thanks the Bellin Cancer Team and Unity Hospice (Lisa) for their kindness and outstanding care.

On Tuesday, August 16, a visitation will be held for Dave beginning at 10:00am at Ascension Lutheran Church, 2911 Libal St., Green Bay, with a Memorial Service at 11:00am. Cotter Funeral and Cremation Care is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be sent to James Madison University Foundation, Inc. at 1031 Harrison St, Harrisonburg, VA, 22807. Please designate the gift “for the David P. and Helen H. Hanson Scholarship Endowment.” Checks must be payable to the JMU Foundation.