James Hanson

James "Jim" Hanson, age 51, of Antioch, Tennessee, formerly of
Willmar, died unexpectedly Saturday, August 26, at his home in Tennessee.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, September 21, at
the Church of St. Mary in Willmar with visitation one hour prior to the
service at the church. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Funeral Home
in Willmar, www.petersonbrothers.com.

James Patrick Hanson was born March 15, 1966, in Willmar, Minnesota,
the third son of Douglas and Iris (Halliday) Hanson. He grew up and received his
education in Willmar, graduating from Willmar High School in 1984. He
worked at Jennie-O for a few years then as a cook at Perkins. Jim was an adventurer so he moved to many different areas of the country, including Alaska, Hawaii, California and Florida where he had many jobs as a cook. For the past 12 years, he had lived in Antioch, Tennessee.

Jim was carefree and a free-spirit. In his youth, Jim was very talented. He was great at diving and gymnastics. He loved music. He was wonderful at playing the saxophone, organ and piano. He also played Oliver in the school musical Oliver Twist.

Jim also enjoyed taking walks, traveling to England to see his mother's family, going to amusement parks, coming home to spend time with his family, and collecting vinyl record albums. He had a great love of animals, and he had 5 dogs and 3 cats.

Jim is survived by three brothers, Steve Hanson of Willmar, David
Hanson of Willmar, and Andrew Hanson of Chicago, IL; a sister, Kathleen (and
Kyle) Thomes of Meire Grove; a stepsister, Cari Jo Cain of Elk River; his
nieces and nephews; grandnieces and grandnephews; and other relatives
and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Douglas Hanson; his mother, Iris Hanson-Cain; his stepfather, Richard Cain; grandparents; and aunts and uncles.