Don was born June 22, 1938 in Highland Park, MI and died on April 6, 2025 in Fort Myers, FL at the age of 86. His family moved to Brookings, SD when he was 2 and to his boyhood home in Redwood Falls, MN at the age of 5 in 1943. After two years at South Dakota State University, Don transferred to the University of Minnesota where he graduated in 1960 with a degree in math. CNA Insurance in Chicago, IL recruited him off campus, and during his employment, he pursued his actuarial credentials. In 1970 he took a leave of absence to enroll in the University of Chicago Business School and earned an MBA in finance before returning to CNA. His future wife, Marilee, joined the company in 1970, and they were together many years before their marriage in 1987. They both left the company in 1975 -- Don did actuarial work for Tillinghast, Nelson and Warren in Atlanta and Marilee was secretary to the president at First Chicago.
In 1980 Don began a 20-year career at the American headquarters of Zurich Insurance in Schaumburg, IL as vice president, senior vice president, executive vice president and chief actuary. In 2000 Don and Marilee retired from their respective jobs to pursue a life of leisure and travel. Having lived in Chicago, Barrington and Crystal Lake, IL, they decided to move to Pelican Preserve in Fort Myers, FL in 2016.
Don is survived by Marilee, his loving wife of 38 years; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Jane and Chuck Lussenhop of Redwood Falls, MN; niece Deb Lussenhop of Maple Grove, MN; Lori Ellingson and husband Mark of Maple Grove, MN; Rob Lussenhop of Mattoon, IL; and sister Claudette Hanson of Colorado Springs, CO. Don also leaves his nephew Tom Lucas and wife Mary Ann of Hoffman Estates, IL; niece Joan Burger and husband Larry of Addison, IL; and James Lucas and wife Denise of West Chicago, IL, as well as his cherished great nieces and nephews and a great-great nephew and great-great niece.
Visitation will be held at Hodges Funeral Home at Lee Memorial Park 12777 State Road 82 in Fort Myers, Florida on Saturday, May 3 from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the Memorial Service at 11:45 am. Inurnment will follow in Lee Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to St. Jude's Research Hospital in memory of Don Hanson.
https://www.stjude.org/donate
