Rev. Charles L. Hanson

Rev. Charles Leslie Hanson, 96, of Topeka, formerly of Axtell, died Sunday, September 15, 2019 at St. Francis Campus in Topeka. Visitation will be held from noon until 8 p.m., Monday, September 23 at the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, September 24 at Salem Lutheran Church near Axtell.  Rev. Cindy Cone and Rev. Caren Loper will officiate.  The musicians will be Shirley Polson, Pat Olson, Carissa Shirley and Holly Brandt.  Music will include “Holy, Holy, Holy”, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”, “Children of the Heavenly Father”, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” and “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”. The pallbearers will be Kyle Winchell, Randyn Brandt, Caleb Oltmanns, Jacob Oltmanns, Stephen Tillberg and Mark Tillberg. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Charles was born April 30, 1923 in Chanute, KS, to Richard G. and Emma (Bodin) Hanson, and baptized September 23, 1923.  His family moved to Topeka when he was very young.  Charles was confirmed May 30, 1939 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Topeka.  He graduated from Seaman High School in Topeka and attended Washburn University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in social work.  He received his theological education at Augustana Theological Seminary, Rock Island, IL, and ordained as an Augustana Lutheran Church Minister on June 14, 1953.  His first call as a new minister was to Zion Lutheran, Galveston, TX. Other congregations he served were in Dallas, TX, Ironwood MI, Atchison, WaKeeney, Axtell and Home City.  After serving congregations in the in the Lutheran church, he continued ministering in UMC congregations in Vassar, Quenemo, Michigan Valley and Bern.  He retired from active ministry on June 14, 1987. On June 22, 1947, he married Ruth Marie Olson of Osage City, KS, the girl his mother introduced him to.  They were married 29 years until her death on June 23, 1976.  That union was blessed with 4 children.  Charles was lucky enough to fall in love again. On June 12, 1977, he married Jeanette Catherine Lingard, who had three children by her marriage to Richard Lingard, who passed away in 1972.  Charles and Jeanette were married 36 years until her death on January 2, 2013.  Their blended family included 7 children, 25 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren. Charles served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a company clerk in the first sergeant’s office of the 28th Medical Depot in Belgium. He was a lifelong lover of music and enjoyed listening to and participating in all forms of music. He had a lovely baritone voice and especially enjoyed being involved in various vocal groups at all stages of his life including being a member of “The Rivermen”, a 30 voice men’s choir during the years he served St. Mark’s Lutheran church in Atchison.  He also enjoyed gardening and the fruits and vegetables he was able to harvest.  Family vacations were another one of his favorites and state and national parks provided an abundance of camping and hiking adventures. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth; second wife, Jeanette; sister, Berniece; brothers, George, Wendell and Keith; stepsons, Larry and Lance; stepdaughter, Loretta; and great-grandson, Keyunn. A loving husband and father, family times were a priority. There was no doubt he loved his family and the time he had with his grandchildren. Even as he grew older and struggled with some dementia, he remained easygoing, loving and appreciative of life itself. He will be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor. Charles’ deep faith and love for his Lord was his guide throughout his family life and his service to the members of every church he served and to all the people around him. He will be missed by all who knew him. Survivors include his son, Tom Hanson (Yong), Gunsan, South Korea; three daughters, Gloria Tillberg (Gordon), Salina, KS, Leslie Cox (Tammy), Grant, NM, and Karen Brumleve (Michael), Topeka; 25 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; sister, Joanne James, Sacramento, CA; and brother, Neil Hanson, Lincoln, CA. A memorial fund has been established to the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago.  Contributions may be sent in care of the Axtell-Landreth Funeral Home. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Rev. Charles L. Hanson, please visit our flower store.