Harry E. Hanson

Harry Eric Hanson, 92, of Hutto passed away Thursday, February 24, 2011, in Georgetown, TX.

Visitation will be 6 to 8 pm Sunday, February 27, at Providence Funeral Home in Taylor, TX. Celebration of Life services will be Monday, February 28, 10 am, at Hutto Discovery Methodist Church with Reverend Paul Gravley officiating. Burial will follow at Hutto City Cemetery.

Harry was born August 6, 1918 to Carl and Ellen (Eklund) Hanson, 1.5 miles northwest of Hutto, Texas. He married the love of his life, Jackie Sorenson, on August 28, 1946 at the First United Methodist Church in Taylor, Texas, and they were blessed with a daughter and a son. They had 63 beautiful years together on their farm outside of Hutto. This farmland has been in his family for four generations.

Besides his love for farming, Harry always enjoyed gardening, fishing, sports, and many other outdoor activities. He was an excellent carpenter and could “fix” anything needing repair. Two of the most important times of the year to him were awaiting the arrival of his purple martins in early spring and the first ear of sweet corn ripening in early summer.

Harry was a lifelong member of the Hutto United Methodist Church where he served in many leadership roles throughout the years. His grandparents were instrumental in providing the land and starting the church in 1910, and in 2004, Harry and Jackie donated 10 acres of their farmland for the original sanctuary to be relocated. Harry took much pride in attending his church regularly even after he couldn’t walk. Every Sunday he drove his UT golf cart to church with his wheelchair in tow.

Harry was also very active in the community, serving on the Hutto School Board, Hutto Grain and Gin Boards, and in the Lions Club for many years. He was named Taylor Chamber of Commerce Master Farmer in 1963, and both he and Jackie were awarded Hutto Chamber of Commerce Master Farmers in 1988.

He was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, husband, and brother and enjoyed all of his family, especially on holidays.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife and his sister, Irene Younts.

Harry is survived by his daughter, Diane Tasto and husband, Bill, of Lake Jackson; son, Ron Hanson and wife, Laura, of Hutto; grandchildren, Chris Krieg and wife, Dawn, of Houston, and Robyn Hoffman and husband, Joe, of Austin; step-grandchildren, Melanie Friske and husband, Greg, of Rockne, Ryan Pugh and wife, Dawn, of Round Rock, and Amy Tasto of Lake Jackson; great-grandchildren, Alison Krieg, Margaret Anne Krieg, Clayton Hoffman, and Nicholas Friske; sister, Faye Sefcik, of Taylor; and loving caregiver Karen Jones, of Taylor.

Pallbearers will be Darrell Barker, Chuck Hanstrom, Dwayne Krueger, Steve Mobley, Eric Stromberg, and Donald Wallin.

Memorials may be made to the Hutto Discovery Methodist Church, 350 Ed Schmidt Blvd, Hutto, TX, or the Hutto City Cemetery, Hutto Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 324, Hutto, TX 78634, in Harry’s memory.

The family also wishes to thank the Park Place Care Center staff for their excellent professional care for Harry during the past year.