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Robert (Bob) L. Hanson, age 76, of Lindstrom, Minnesota, died unexpectedly on Saturday, May 2, 2015.

Bob was born March 15, 1939, in Minneota, Minnesota, to Orin and Vivian (Kompelien) Hanson and was the second of their three sons. Bob was a member of Minneota’s football team and graduated from Minneota High School in 1957. After graduating from high school, Bob attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. While in college, Bob played football and met the love of his life, Eva Kate (Katsy) Briggs. Bob graduated from Concordia in January of 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. He and Katsy were married on August 12, 1961, in Moorhead.

Bob and Katsy began their teaching careers in Bowman, North Dakota, and later taught in Floodwood, Minnesota. In 1967, Bob was hired as a high school physical education teacher in Chisago City, Minnesota. While at Chisago City High School, Bob initiated the wrestling program and he also served as an assistant football coach. After the consolidation with Lindstrom-Center City, Bob and Katsy continued their teaching careers in the Chisago Lakes School District, until their retirement in 1999. Bob served as head wrestling coach and an assistant football coach at Chisago Lakes for 25 years. Bob was inducted into the Chisago Lakes High School Hall of Fame in 2011.

After retiring, Bob and Katsy enjoyed many vacations throughout the United States and Europe. They also spent many extended vacations in their motorhome and in Canada, Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. Bob and Katsy had just returned from a river cruise in France two weeks before his death.

In his spare time, Bob enjoyed fishing, hunting, and watching sporting events of every kind. For nearly 20 years, Bob especially enjoyed planning and participating in the annual Hanson Family fishing trip. He continued to follow the success of the Minneota High School sports teams throughout his life. He was also an avid fan of the Minnesota Gophers and the Minnesota Vikings. Bob and Katsy have been season ticket holders for the Minnesota Vikings since 1969.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Don, and by his sisters-in-law, Rachel, Dolores, and Patricia.

In addition to his wife, Katsy, Bob is survived by his three children: Chris Hanson, Patti (Jim) Casterton, and Joel (Christi) Hanson and by his five grandsons: Jacob and Daniel Klinke, Zachary, William, and Michael Hanson. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, James and Paula Hanson, a sister- in-law Bonnie Hanson, and a brother-in-law, James (Chuck) Smith, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation with Bob’s family will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 7, at Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom. A celebration of Bob’s life will take place at 11 a.m.  Friday, May 8, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lindstrom. Condolences may be left online at www.grandstrandfh.com

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