Roy James "RJ" Hanna Jr.

He was born the eldest son of Bertha (Hanebaum) Hanna and Roy James Hanna Sr. in Kansas City, MO on February 21, 1939. RJ had a younger brother, Robert “Bob” Hanna, who predeceased him in 2020. RJ graduated from Southwest High School in 1957 and attended Iowa State University, where he received a degree in Industrial Engineering. At Iowa State, he met and fell in love with Virginia “Ginny” Louise Whitley, of Joliet, IL. They met during their freshman year of college, through their sorority and fraternity events, and became inseparable thereafter. They were married on August 12, 1961 and spent nearly 60 years together before Ginny’s death in July 2021. RJ and Ginny had 2 children, Kathy and Doug, while they lived in Kansas City and RJ worked for the family business, Hanna Rubber Company. In 1968, the family moved to Fairport, NY, where RJ was employed by Eastman Kodak as an industrial engineer. RJ earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Rochester Institute of Technology in June 1973 while working for Kodak. In 1975 the family moved to Fort Collins where RJ and Ginny would put down roots for nearly 50 years. RJ worked for the newly opened Eastman Kodak plant in Windsor, CO where he spent the remainder of his career working in Information Technology until he retired in 1991.

RJ was a devoted husband, taking care of Ginny in her later years as she lost her eyesight to macular degeneration and had various health issues. He was also a very involved dad, always showing up to school events, music concerts and sports activities, and volunteering in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts with Doug. RJ also actively participated in the life of his church communities over the years including building committees, Fort Collins First Presbyterian Church Foundation, men’s groups, and just in the last year serving as a receptionist and welcoming face at First Pres. He found great solace in the grief group he attended after Ginny’s passing. In addition to church activities, RJ also kept busy playing golf, bowling, and playing bridge. He and Ginny earned the distinction of achieving the rank of Life Master in competitive duplicate bridge and RJ had recently begun relearning some bridge strategies with a few neighbors in “the circle” where he lived.

RJ and Ginny traveled extensively throughout their life together. In the early years with kids, travel mainly consisted of regular summer road trips to spend time with grandparents and cousins and spring break trips to places warm and sunny. In later years Sanibel Island, FL was a favorite destination for RJ and Ginny for shelling and enjoying the beach, but RJ also fondly remembered trips to Alaska and Hawaii. RJ loved spending time with the larger family once kid’s spouses and grandkids came along and thoroughly enjoyed the family being together on trips to Hilton Head Island, SC and in Maui for their 50th anniversary celebration.

RJ was pleased to reconnect with his brother Bob’s side of the family at a Hanna family Reunion in Breckenridge in July 2022. He enjoyed our days meeting new family members, getting reacquainted and reminiscing. It tickled RJ to watch the younger generations’ dance parties, listen to spontaneous singalongs, and observe the general merriment. RJ was so looking forward to our next Hanna Family Reunion planned for this fall in the Smoky Mountains. He texted the family at the beginning of the year with a countdown of the number of days until the trip! It would be his biggest wish to see us go ahead with this reunion in his honor, and so we will.

RJ lived well and loved well and we know he was met by his savior saying “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We will miss you and look forward to being reunited in heaven someday in the future.

He is survived by his children, Kathy von Rosenberg (David) of Thornton, CO, Doug (Gretchen) of Mill Creek, WA, and his three grandchildren, David Hanna (WA), Jennifer Hanna (WA), and Justin von Rosenberg (CO). He is also survived by an extended family of both Hannas and Whitleys, including brother-in-law and sisters-in-law, five nieces and nephews, and several great nieces and nephews.

Memorial Contributions may be made on behalf of RJ to: the American Diabetes Association or the First Presbyterian Church Foundation, Caring Ministry.