Brian Lee Hanson

Our beloved patriarch, Brian Lee Hanson, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on May 29, 2022 at his home in Madison, WI. He was 64. Born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin to Lawrence and Lila (nee Fillmore) Hanson, Brian was the loving father of Jamie Hanson (Patrick), Ryan Hanson (Stephanie), Trevor England (Carolyn), and Whitney England (James), “Paupu” to Isaac England, and grandfather to Riker Hanson. Brian was also an enthusiastic and accomplished mountain biker, a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, and a highly respected senior business analyst at Labcorp (Covance). Brian received his B.S. in Information Technology from Northern Michigan University in 1997. Everyone who knew Brian knew that his favorite place to be was outside. He especially loved mountain biking. Brian came to know the freedom, camaraderie, and beauty of mountain biking relatively late in life, and took to it immediately with natural grace and ability. Brian approached his mountain biking skill building like he did everything else: with dedicated, data-driven, methodical persistence. He was also an accomplished skier and a certified scuba diving instructor. Brian could also fix, build, improve or remodel anything. He once rebuilt an entire automobile engine (something he’d never done before) by borrowing a book from the library and buying three hundred dollars’ worth of tools. We, his idiot laborers, happily spent many years in Brian’s capable, dependable shadow, following him anywhere, secure in the knowledge that we could count on him to provide solid, unfailing leadership, give his best effort, and deliver the absolute, highest-quality work. Brian is survived by his best friend and former wife of 33 years, Jamie England, and former wife Debra Ecklor. Surviving siblings are brother Lawrence Hanson, sisters Kristi Hanson (Harvey Klein), Julie Hanson Fowler (David Mansfield), and LuAnn LaLiberty (Randall), and many nieces and nephews. Brian was preceded in death by his parents, his infant son (Jeremy), brothers Arvid Hanson and Bradley Hanson, sister-in-law Linda Hanson, and infant niece Jennifer Fowler. Brian was a true unsung hero, a loving father, loyal friend, supportive brother, devoted husband, accomplished colleague, and an inspiration to all who knew him. He was taken from us too soon, and we will miss him terribly. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Brian’s name to the National MS Society.