RICHARD F. HANSON

Richard Frank Hanson was born on May 4, 1945, in Barron, Wisconsin, to Ingval and Margaret (Willems) Hanson. He passed away on June 2, 2026, in Hudson, Wisconsin, surrounded by loved ones in a room filled with stories and laughter.
Richard lived a full life. Raised on the family farm, he learned the value of hard work and loyalty. His early education began in a one-room country schoolhouse, and he later graduated from Turtle Lake High School in 1963 and the UW-Madison Ag Short Course in 1964. He learned many of life’s lessons the hard way, including recovering from a gunshot wound at age 14 and surviving too many “close calls” during his young adult years. In 1968, Richard discovered his calling on the road. For 42 years, “Dick” (as he was affectionately known to his colleagues) worked as an over-the-road truck driver, traveling through 47 of the lower 48 states. Richard was a hardworking, faithful, and honest man who took great pride in doing every job the right way.
In June 1972, Richard married Ruth Hesselink of Waupun. They welcomed a daughter, Sarah, and a son, Gary, and raised their family in Baldwin, WI. Richard’s final years were challenging as he navigated life with Parkinson’s disease. While he battled the illness with admirable strength and continued to bring joy to those around him, we are comforted in knowing that his pain and struggle are now over.
Richard is survived by his wife and life partner of 53 years, Ruth; his daughter, Sarah (Bill) Prem and their children, Greta, Liam, and Joey of Minneapolis, MN; and his son, Gary (Margo) Hanson and their children, Hayley and Skylar of Des Moines, IA. He is also survived by his siblings, Irvin (Kathy) Hanson of Almena, Larry (Bonnie) Hanson of Ladysmith, John Hanson of Chetek, Mary Lou (Bruce) Kringle of Barron, Rita (Bill) Wuebben of Rice Lake, Sharon Youngs of Prentice, Jim (Val) Hanson of Clear Lake, and Paul (Bonnie) Hanson of Almena, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends near and far. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Steve Hanson.
The family wishes to express their gratitude for the compassionate care provided by the staff at Cambridge Senior Living, Sequoia Integrative Medical Services, and St. Croix Hospice. A celebration of Richard’s life will be held at O’Connell Funeral Home in Baldwin on Monday, June 29. Visitation begins at 11:00 a.m., with the service at noon, followed by lunch and burial at the Baldwin Cemetery. Funeral services are entrusted to O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Baldwin.