William "Bill" Hanson

William "Bill" Henry Hanson, 91, of Sturgeon Bay, was called Home to be with the Lord, Sunday morning, November 30, 2025 while at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay, with family at his side.

He was born June 20, 1934 in Racine, the son of Eben Roy Hanson, Sr. and Loretta Elizabeth (Grovogel) Hanson. Bill's family moved to Door County and resided in Baileys Harbor. He grew up attending Baileys Harbor Grade School and St. Mary's of the Lake Parish (now Stella Maris Parish-Baileys Harbor site). Bill graduated from Gibraltar High School with the class of 1952.

It was during a high school basketball game that he noticed Virginia Cora Reimer across the court. She was a cheerleader, and when Bill was sitting on the team bench, he knew she was the one. They were united in marriage on April 30, 1955 at Bill's home church, St. Mary's of the Lake.

Bill and Virginia resided in Sturgeon Bay. His primary employment was with Peterson Builders, Inc. where he worked as a department head in the welding department for over 43 1/2 years. Bill was a welding instructor for Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College in the early 1970s where he taught evening classes. He worked for Bay Shipbuilding Co for one winter and AmeriFab (now ExacTech) for two years, both in Sturgeon Bay. From 1998 until 2006 Bill was the sexton at Bayside Cemetery in the Town of Sevastopol. Living in Sturgeon Bay, Bill and Virginia were members of St. Joseph Parish.

Bill loved the game of baseball, which he played for over 30 years of life - initially in the youth leagues before playing in the Door County Baseball League. Their 1953 traveling baseball team was the first baseball championship team for Baileys Harbor. He even appreciated the game as a coach, coaching his daughters' softball teams when they were younger. Bill liked playing cards with family and friends. He was a true outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. Bill looked forward to getting a round of golf in with his usual golfing buddies.

He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife, Virginia, with whom he was blessed to share over 70 years of marriage; children, Christine Peterson of Sturgeon Bay, Valerie Johnson of Allouez, Philip (Beth) Hanson of Brussels, Marla (Jeff) Lustila of Sturgeon Bay, and Amy (Jeff) Gauger of Mequon; grandchildren, Shanna (Jordan Elenz) Peterson, Allison (Matt) DeCosse, Nicole (Evan) Socha, and Bailey Hanson, Melanie (Jacob) Boyd, Chad (Cynthia) Sternard, Kyle (Stephanie) Sternard, and Mark (Caitlyn) Lustila, and Katelyn and Emily Gauger; great-grandchildren, Adeline, Kinsley, Julius, and Eleanor DeCosse, Israel and Amelia Boyd, Charles and Claire Sternard, Austin and Peyton Sternard, and Bailee (Noah) and Quinton Lustila; sisters-in-law, Agnes Hanson of Elkhorn, Florence Hanson of Plymouth, and Jane Pluff of Baileys Harbor; many nieces and nephews; other relatives; and friends.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; sons-in-law, Lee Peterson, Thomas "T.J." Johnson, and Charles "Chuck" Sternard; grandson-in-law, Curtis Lustila; siblings, Jean (Ray Zak; Reuben Widder) Widder, Carol (Joseph) Nelson, Larry Hanson, Eben (June) Hanson, Jr., Margaret (Carlton) Kuehn, Robert Hanson, James (Rose) Hanson, Helen (James) Abrahamson, Donald (Judy) Hanson, Florence (Donald) Melichar; parents-in-law, Arthur and Frieda (nee Honold) Reimer; siblings-in-law, Douglas (Danica) Reimer, Donald (Janet) Reimer, Clyde Pluff; and other relatives.

Bill's life will be honored with a Mass of Christian Burial prayed at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 110 N. 5th Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 with Fr. Matthew Rappl as celebrant. He will be laid to rest in the Baileys Harbor Town Cemetery.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at Huehns Funeral Home, 1414 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 with a parish wake service to be held at 6:45 p.m. and led by Dcn. Mark Bortle. Visitation will continue at the church on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.

Memorials may be given in his honor to support the Carla and Ellsworth Peterson Foundation Aquatics Center at the Door County YMCA (PAYABLE TO: Door County YMCA, 1900 Michigan Street, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235; www.doorcountyymca.org). MENTION: "In Memory of William Hanson" in the memo. Bill and his family were so grateful how accommodating the pool and lifeguard staff were over the past 20 years.

"Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Door County Medical staff (nurses and doctors) on the med-surg for the wonderful care you gave to Bill (Dad) and our family."

Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Bill may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.

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