Ainsworth E. Hanson, 75, Geneseo, formerly of Arlington Heights, died Feb. 13, 2010, at Trinity Pathway Hospice, Bettendorf, Iowa, after a courageous battle with cancer. A private service was held in Davenport, Iowa. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2211 N. Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707; Izaak Walton League Geneseo Chapter, P.O. Box 174, Geneseo, IL 61254; or the Henry County Humane Society, 14606 Roos Hill Rd., Geneseo, IL 61254.
Hanson was born Feb. 21, 1934, in Two Harbors, Minn., the son of Ainsworth E. and Alice (Wurster) Hanson, Sr. He graduated from Augustana College, Rock Island, in 1956 and married Janet M. Larson of Davenport, in 1958. He began a long career in marketing as a field representative for C.E. Niehoff and Co. in 1958, leaving there as vice president of sales and a member of the board of directors after a corporate buyout in 1982. He finished his career with MBL (USA) Corporation (a subsidiary of Mitsuboshi Belting Ltd., in Kobe, Japan) as the first American vice president of sales and marketing for North America. Hanson was instrumental in helping MBL open its first American manufacturing plant in Ottawa, IL, and enjoyed several trips to corporate headquarters in Japan. He was the guest speaker at Mitsuboshi’s 80th anniversary celebration in Kobe, Japan, before retiring in 2001. Hanson enjoyed helping others through many philanthropic organizations. He was a Past Major of the Medinah Shrine Mini Motor Corps of the Northwest Shrine and was an usher at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago. He was a life member of Doric Masonic Lodge No. 319 and King Oscar Masonic Lodge No. 855; a life member of Elks Lodge No. 556, Moline; a member of Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Davenport Consistory, and Past Worthy Patron of Arlington Heights Eastern Star Chapter No. 992. He recently served as president of the Geneseo chapter of the Izaak Walton League. Hanson enjoyed boating, fishing, photography, billiards and loved to read.
Survivors include his wife, Janet; daughters and spouse, Lori S. and Joseph Leane of Mt. Prospect and Jodi S. Hanson of Arlington Heights; granddaughters, Mara, Jenna and Diana Leane; stepmother, Valah Minear of East Moline, and his beloved adopted cat, Oreo. He was preceded in death by his parents and a baby brother, William.
Geneseo, Ill. —
