Losing a loved one is an emotionally excruciating experience. Talking about it more so. Grief is the price we pay for love. However, paying tribute to that loved individual, reminiscing the fond memories and shared experiences brings us closer to that person.
Jon A. Hanson age 61, gracefully bid a final goodbye to this world on 11 March 2024 at Agrace Hospice Care in Fitchburg. He bravely battled the pain of esophageal cancer for two months with his own stoic strength. In his demise as he was in his life, Jon did not burden others. Perhaps, he chose not to trouble his family further and made his exit. Well, that was Jon for you.
In our own selfish way we wanted him to remain with us but could we have endured the physical pain on his behalf? We all know the answer. So, insensitive as it may sound it is a relief that Jon was freed from his aching agony. We may have lost Jon, but we have gained an angel we know. Whatever the state of preparedness, the moment of parting forever is heart-breaking. In the agony of parting, we realize the depth of our love.
Jon donned many roles in his life – all of them with a pleasant poise. A doting father to Jessie, devoted husband to Jenny, friendly father-in-law to Adi, affectionate brother to Kristi, great pal to all his friends, and above all an astute officer and a gentle man. He was tender to his pets Junebug the cat, J-Jaye and Snuffy the dogs. He adored his daughter’s dog Frodo and twin cats Oliver and Mitsy. Beyond all these roles, who was Jon? What was his true identity? The answer is, he was a simple soul who loved life, family and friends.
Jon lived his life full of vigour and according to his principles. He was blessed in more ways than one. He got married to his Stoughton high school sweetheart Jeannine “Jenny/JT”. In a testimony of their strong love the loving relationship lasted 38 years, since 1986, till he breathed his last breath. Jon and Jenny were blessed with an adorable daughter, Jessica, a psychology major working as a school psychologist and a studious son-in-law, Aditya, a post-graduate Electrical Engineer employed with Apple in California. Jon took immense pride in both these kids. What more could a man have asked for? Few more years, maybe. Unfortunately, that was not to be. But as Martin Luther King Jr said “the quality, not the longevity, of one’s life is what is important” Jon had that quality of life.
Jon had an abundant zest for life. An affable character by nature he was an easy conversationalist. He was at once an outdoor and an indoor man. He was as comfortable in the lap of nature fishing or going on long drives with Jeannine, as he was in a recliner in his living room devouring a book or watching an old classic movie. He enjoyed target shooting, sports – especially college sports. An incurable bibliophile and avid reader he had an insatiable hunger for learning new things. Jon’s memory for facts, places, and lifetime events was impeccable. On a beautiful fall day, Jon could be seen doing what he enjoyed most: tinkering in his garage with a beer in hand or labouring over maintaining the yard.
And he loved his job since he began his employment relationship with the Sauk County Sheriff's Department as a Jail Deputy. He was a lawman to the core carrying out various roles like Patrol Deputy and promotion to Patrol Sergeant where he would provide an expanse of duty and responsibilities including: administrative/patrol supervision, active shooter response instructor, shoot house instructor, field training supervisor, student internship program supervisor, Law Enforcement Liaison for Sauk County Rural Safety Days. He was also a member of groups like “Project Life Saver Team” and “Community Coordinated Response to Domestic Violence Group'' until his retirement in January of 2016.
He excelled in whatever law enforcement task that was entrusted to him. He was a member of Sauk County Dive Rescue Team as a Dive Master and Sauk County Emergency Response Team - “ERT”. Jon was promoted to Team Leader on the ERT in 2009 where his duties expanded to planning, coordination and execution of tactical operations including high risk search and arrest warrants, armed barricaded persons, armed suicidal persons, and hostage rescue situations.
Jon had a strong sense of what was right and wrong. He broke life into simple binaries like good or bad; black or white; vice or virtue and wanted good guys to win. He adored police officers who cornered goons and not surprisingly his basem*nt had wooden shelves sagging with books of real-life police heroes and investigations.
Again unsurprisingly, Jon’s courage of convictions brought him laurels in the form of several awards that include Meritorious Services Award from Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association (1992); Dane County Emergency Medical Services Certificate of Recognition (1992); Valor Award by the Wisconsin Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff’s Association (1992) and Life Saving Recognition from Sauk County Sheriff’s Department (2009). His Sauk County Emergency Response Team received recognition as “SWAT Team of the Year 2006" and shared recognition as “SWAT Team of the Year 2008" by Wisconsin Association of SWAT Personnel. Till the detection of the dreaded disease, Jon continued his securities duties.
Jon’s parents L. Ward Hanson, Gabrielle Hanson, and brother Michael Hanson who preceded him to heaven are waiting to welcome him.
Adi’s dad from India has this to say about Jon “My first impression of Jon when I met him Champaign was, this man with his hard muscled arms and strong shoulders that could crush me in an embrace. And believe me he did crush me, enveloping with his affection and easy-going demeanour. Behind the tough exterior lay a soft interior. We became instantaneous buddies. When I was in Madison, WI for the wedding of our kids, he volunteered to take me on a drive to the town where he grew up. He regaled me with anecdotes of his youthful days in Stoughton. He showed me the school where he studied, the church where he got married to Jeannine and the houses where they both grew up, and the playfields where he jostled with his friends. Slowly I was discovering Jon. His enthusiasm was infectious. Blessed are people like him who can derive great delight in simple things of life. He was particularly proud of a signboard he put up as a street department worker in youth, which after decades still stood as a silent sentinel of his sincerity. When he asked if there was any particular place I wanted to visit, I asked him what a honkytonk was. He took me to a couple of, what he called, dive bars – Viking and Squirrel’s Nest if recall rightly – where we downed a couple of beers and had a gall of a time. He promised that the next time around we could visit White Rock. There would be no next time, though I did not know at that time. To me the most striking aspect about Jon was his guileless childish innocence and glee at simple things. I envied him for it. We often exchanged messages till the detection of his cancer. The last was on 16th January. What moved me deeply was, on 13th January he sent a message saying ‘Two years ago when we first met, were sure happier times. I’m praying those days will return’. I responded ‘I am sure those happier times will return and we shall surely meet again, hopefully as grand dads. It brings tears to my eyes now. I never knew that the cancer spread was beyond cure. Though I knew Jon only for a little over two years, I shall always carry those lovely memories I had with him. He utterly shattered my preconceived notions of gruff, brusque American. Be at peace, brother”.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the Oncology Unit at UW Madison, Agrace Hospice, and the family and friends who have and continue to support them during this difficult time.
A life celebration will be held on Tuesday March 19, 2024, at the Dorf Haus from 1:00-4:00pm. Attendees please plan to arrive by 1:00pm in order to witness the Honorable Presentation of the Guard, prayer and speakers. Refreshments, small bites, and storytelling amongst friends to follow. In lieu of flowers, a memorial to the family would be appreciated. Today, our hearts are so full of Jon’s fond memories that they spill out of our eyes. If you have tears for Jon, shed them for there is no embarrassment in it. Let this be a celebration of his life rather than a bereavement. That’s what Jon would have wanted.
