Larry Oke Hanson, age 82 of Cherokee, IA, passed away Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at the Good Samaritan Society in Holstein, IA. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, February 2, 2025, at the Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA. Pastor David Hall will officiate. Burial will be at Oak Hill Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The Greenwood-Schubert Funeral Home in Cherokee, IA is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.greenwoodfuneral.com.
Obituary
Larry Oke Hanson, the son of Oke and Betty (Ferrin) Hanson was born May 18, 1942, in Le Mars, IA. His childhood years were spent in Cherokee, IA where he attended school and graduated from Washington High School. Larry then moved to Seattle, WA and attended two years of college at an electrical technician school. Upon earning his degree, he enlisted in the US Navy in 1960.
Larry made a career in the Navy where he served as a Sonar Technician. He later became Ship Master at Arms on the USS Cunningham destroyer during the Vietnam War. He continued his military service until his retirement in 1980.
On August 20, 1964, Larry was united in marriage to Jan Anderson. Together, they welcomed two daughters Lora and Elizabeth. They lived in Hawaii, San Diego, and Virginia Beach while he was in the military. They later moved back to Cherokee, IA, where he worked as an electric technician for Iowa Office Supply in Storm Lake.
Larry was an avid outdoorsman who loved black powder guns, riding mules in the back country, and pretty much anything that involved the outdoors. He was a member of the Buck Skinner Group and American Mountain Men. He was featured in National Geographic along with his friends camping in the wilderness. He enjoyed spending time at the Cherokee Rendezvous, was an avid gun collector, enjoyed raising sheep, pigs, horses, and lambs on his farm.
On Wednesday, January 29, 2025, Larry passed away at the Good Samaritan Society in Holstein at the age of 82. He was preceded in death by his parents, Oke and Betty Ferrin.
He will lovingly be remembered by his daughters and their husbands, Lora (Gary) Strahmann of Aurora, CO, and Elizabeth (Timothy) Volf of Manson, IA; grandchildren, William Strahmann, Sarah Strahmann, Brittany Hatjinos and her son, Noah Lamb, and Brandon Volf and his daughter, Thea Volf; and two nieces, Lisa and Karen.