Dana J. Hanson

Dana Jay Hanson, age 47, of Glenwood, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 15, 2021, at his home in rural Glenwood. There will be a private Celebration of Life for Dana to include family and close friends later. Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

Dana Jay Hanson, the son of John and Kathryn (Gerhardson) Hanson, was born on April 8, 1973 in Glenwood, MN. He was baptized at St John’s Lutheran Church in Villard and confirmed at Scandia Lutheran Church in Scandia. He attended Prospect Park and Brooten elementary schools. Dana participated in wrestling until junior high. During high school he enjoyed being a part of the Speech Team and acting in School Plays.  Dana’s musical talent soared while playing the clarinet, performing in concerts, pep-band and competing at regional and state levels. He excelled in woodworking and received the top honor-Birch Coulee Craftsman of the Year in May of 1991.  Dana graduated from Brooten-Belgrade-Elrosa High School in 1991, after which he studied Automotive Service Technology at Willmar Technical College.

Dana worked for 5 years as a production worker at Jennie-O in Willmar before moving to the Twin Cities, where he started his 25-year career with Learning Strategies, a personal development publishing and training company, in Minnetonka. During that time, he worked in customer service, helped develop new programs, supported seminars and retreats around the world, provided helpful and insightful coaching to clients.  In the early 2000s, Dana moved back to Glenwood and continued to work many years remotely for the company.  Dana earned the “Einstein Award for Excellence” and the “Natural Brilliance Award” from his peers who will celebrate his contributions long into the future.

Dana was a thoughtful and caring person. He was there for anyone that needed help no matter where or time of day. He would drop anything to help his family and friends. If a stranger needed help, he would not hesitate to offer a helping hand. 

Dana welcomed a challenge and had an exceptional ability to find solutions to any mechanical problem. He was especially skilled at fixing hard to work on parts for vehicles, tractors, misc. farming equipment, furnaces and all household appliances. If a car part was needed, he was the “master” when it came to finding the best deal.

Dana loved his family and working on the family farm. He took pride in everything he did, and he made the farm a warm and welcoming place for all. He was a great son, brother, uncle, great uncle, cousin and friend. Dana passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday, March 15, 2021, at the age of 47. He will be greatly missed.

Dana is survived by his parents, John and Kathryn (Gerhardson) Hanson of Glenwood; siblings, Barry Erickson (and fiancé Teri) of Glenwood, Kayla (Jerome) Erickson-Jones of Glenwood, Lynette (Jim) Erickson-Waldorf of Osakis, Stephanie Hanson Boesen of New Hope, Penny (Gary) Brundell of Alexandria, and Kermit (Michelle) Hanson of Brainerd; nieces and nephews, Staci, Ashley and Benjamin Erickson, Joey and Michael Stansbury, Tyler, Andrew and Emily Toop, John Petersen and Halley Boesen, Nicholas and Devin Brundell; several great-nieces and nephews other relatives and friends.

Dana was preceded in death by a brother, Andrew John Hanson; grandparents, Helmer and Ruth (Swanson-Nord) Gerhardson, and Allen and Genevieve (Gandrud) Hanson.

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