Daniel "Dan" Hanson

Madison - Daniel “Dan” Herbert Russel Hanson, 74, of Madison, WI, passed away peacefully in his sleep at Agrace Hospice on Friday, June 17, 2022, at Agrace Hospice in Madison, WI. Dan was born in Park Falls, WI on June 21, 1947, to parents Joyce and Owen Hanson and grew up in Dorchester, WI with his sister Carol (Jordan) and grandfather Axel Peterson. He married Avril (Hubbard) on August 6, 1988, in Aberaeron, Wales.

Dan attended college at UW-Stevens Point where he earned two consecutive bachelor’s degrees, eventually settling on a teaching career at Oregon High School in Oregon, WI where he taught for 34 years. He met his wife, Avril, while on his yearlong Fulbright Teaching Exchange in Ashford, England. The two of them moved to Madison, WI, where Dan spent the remainder of his life as a husband, father, teacher, and friend. He was proud of his wife and daughters and loved teaching. He enjoyed reading and writing poetry, digging into books about philosophy and science fiction, discussing social issues and current events, and sharing his many stories with family and friends. He also enjoyed watching live theatre and many visits with his family to Door County, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, and, of course, to the UK to spend time with British family and friends.

He is survived by his wife, Avril; his daughters Valmai Hanson (Norwalk, CT) and Siân Hanson(Minneapolis, MN); his son-in-law Brian Robbins (Norwalk, CT); and sister Carol Jordan (Altoona, WI) as well as extended family, friends, former students, and colleagues. He was preceded in death by his parents Owen and Joyce Hanson.

We would like to extend our thanks to Dr. Alyssa Weber and all the medical staff in the oncology department of SSM Health and to the wonderful staff at Agrace Hospice.

A memorial service will be held at ST. DUNSTAN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 6205 University Ave, Madison, on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at 2 PM. Masks will be worn during the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Dan’s honor to Agrace Hospice, 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway, Madison, WI 53711 (agrace.org) or the Prostate Cancer Foundation 1250 Fourth Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401 (pcf.org)

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434