Leo W. Hanson, 92, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, died Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center.

Leo was born July 19, 1920, in Alexandria, Minn., to Sefert and Cora (Sessions) Hanson. He was baptized in the Methodist Church of Alexandria. Later the family moved to Glenwood, Minn. area where Leo attended school. In 1939, Leo moved to Detroit, Mich., where he was employed as a factory worker. On Nov. 6, 1943, Leo was drafted into the U.S. Army and took his basic training in California. He served in action in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands. On May 11, 1945, Staff Sergeant Hanson was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy at Mindanao in the Philippines. Leo was honorably discharged from the Army on Dec. 26, 1945, and began farming shortly thereafter in the Toeterville area.

On July 20, 1947, Leo married Avis Langrock in the St. Peters Lutheran Church in Toeterville. They continued to farm for 30 years north of Toeterville. In 1976, they moved to their new home in St. Ansgar and at this time joined the St. Ansgar United Methodist Church. Leo worked for Acorn Park Farms for three years and the St. Ansgar Good Samaritan Center for five years until his retirement in 1985.

Leo was active in church and community affairs. He served on the church council and was treasurer of the building fund of St. Peters Lutheran Church, Toeterville. Leo was past commander of Walter T. Eneberg Post 358 with the St. Ansgar American Legion.

Leo had a special love for the great outdoors and spent many hours hunting, fishing and playing golf. He suffered a stroke in 1986 that left him partially paralyzed and affected his speech. Leo’s mind was unaffected after the stroke, but became very concise with his spoken words. The words Leo would choose were always full of love, praise and kindness.

Leo is survived by his wife, Avis, son, Dennis (Mary) Hanson, and daughter, Lisa (Jeff) Hansen, all of St. Ansgar; granddaughter, Leslie (Dr. Dan) Gavrila, children Aidan and Owen of Wausau, Wis.; grandson, Clark (Nicole) Jorgensen, children Talynn and Jaeger of St. Ansgar; grandson, Nicholas ( Ashley) Hanson, children Connor, Mehki, Avah and Alannah of Draper, Utah; sister-in-laws, Shirley Hanson and Audrey Carroll; brother-in-law David (Linda) Langrock; and many nieces and nephews.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Sefert and Cora Hanson; sister and brothers, Vera, Cecil, Ted, Harold and Don; father and mother-in-law, Fred and Myrtella Langrock; and brother-in-laws, Don Carroll and Fred Langrock.

The true joy of Leo’s life was family and the great-grandchildren held a special love.

Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013, at 11 a.m. at St. Ansgar United Methodist Church, St. Ansgar, with the Rev. Peter Chang officiating. Visitation is from 10 a.m. until service time on Saturday at the church. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home of St. Ansgar is in charge of arrangements.