Harlan Hanson, age 88 of Webster City, IA, passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at his home. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 20, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Webster City. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Foster Funeral Home and Cremation Center is entrusted with caring for Harlan and his family.

Harlan Keith Hanson was born on March 7, 1934, in Hardy, IA, to parents Peter and Hattie (Nervig) Hanson, the youngest of seven children. He graduated in 1952 from Webster City High School. Harlan continued his education at Drake University in Des Moines and graduated with a degree in teaching.

On August 1, 1955, he married Karin May Brower in Bethany, MO. This union was blessed with three children: Stefani, Honey Sue, and Eric. Harlan and Karin raised their family on a farm north of town.

After a life-altering motorcycle accident in his mid-twenties, Harlan did anything and everything he could to recover. He wasn’t about to give up all that he loved about life. He was determined to stay active so that he could help support his family. Over the years, Harlan was involved in many area operations. He drove truck, drove a combine during harvest season, and worked on the family acreage. For many years, his work involved planting/maintaining a garden of epic proportions. This job kept him, Karin, and all three kids more than busy! They often sold their fresh produce to local Fareway stores and what they didn’t sell was used to make long-time family recipes and then canned so their cellar shelves were stocked full for the winter. Harlan never allowed his physical limitations slow him down. He refused to think he couldn’t do things, in fact, if there was something extra challenging, he pushed even harder to get it accomplished. That’s who he was. Growing up in a large farming family, he certainly knew how to work hard, and he taught his children those same values. Whether it was gathering/chopping/hauling wood to heat their home for the winter, weeding the huge garden every day, counting every kernel of corn on an ear (the kids despised this task), or tending to the Doberman puppies they raised, there was always work to be done, and each of the kids would tell you today, as adults, that they are better humans for having done all of these things. They learned so much and made so many great memories along the way.

Harlan was a voracious learner, a man with a great mind who until the day he died, wanted to ‘know more’. He was amazed that google could answer all of his questions (and he had a lot of them, always) and if there was someone around with a smart phone, he’d have them ‘googling’. Along with always wanting to learn/know more, he certainly liked living on the edge. In fact, he took part in the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show. Like Evel Knievel, he jumped cars on a motorcycle. Had the accident not happened, one could only imagine all the exhilarating feats he would have pursued. Harlan will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Karin; daughter Honey Sue Heater of Marion, IA, and son, Eric (Shelly) Hanson of Webster City; grandchildren Nate Heater (fiancée Laura Vincent), Katy (Nate) Anderson, and Aidan Hanson; great-grandchildren Connor Heater and Zoey Anderson; sister Dorothy Olson of California; many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and friends.

Harlan is preceded in death by his parents, Pete and Hattie Hanson; daughter Stefani Menage; siblings Lorna Richardson, Lloyd Hanson, Orpha Walker, Helen Bahr, and Marjorie Hames; and parents-in-law Dwight and Mildred Brower.