Brett Hanson

Brett Hanson, age 51, of Waucoma, IA died Sunday, January 2, 2022, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in LaCrosse, WI. 

Friends may greet the family from 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at the Waucoma Event Center where there will be a 7:00 p.m. memorial service with Rev. Kevin Frey presiding. If you’re unable to attend the funeral, join the family live on the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral home Facebook page at the time of the service. Online condolences for the Hanson family may be left at hugebackfuneralhome.com. 563-776-6171. 

Brett was born on September 25, 1970, to Robert and Norma Jean (Schatz)Hanson on an American Air Force base in Okinawa, Japan, and he was welcomed home by two brothers — Blaine and Bryce — and the three Hanson boys had a tight bond that lasted a lifetime. 

After Brett’s father retired after serving his country for 20 years, the family moved to West Union, where Brett grew up and received his education. He was a member of the Class of 1989 at North Fayette High School before continuing his education at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, where he focused on business classes. 

He worked for Cam Car for 25 years, and for 14 years, he also worked as a part-time mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. Three years ago, he finally landed a full-time job delivering the mail, and he loved doing his rural route near West Union. 

Brett, though, wasn’t defined by his work, for at his core, he was a family man. He met Amy Robbins on a blind date, and the two clicked almost right away and were married on June 29, 2002. He had a daughter, Dulcie, from a previous relationship, and Brett and Amy had two children — Emma and Noah — and he did everything he could for his three children, all of whom have great memories of their father. 

They remember the naps they took with their dad when he worked third shift and mom was at her job. Dulcie remembers coming to Iowa to visit her dad and going to the Pizza Palace and always ordering a “taco with no tomatoes.” The two younger kids will always treasure the days they spent with their dad racing everything from go-karts to hobby stocks. He was, in short, his three children’s superfan. 

In addition to supporting his children and their friends who played sports at Turkey Valley High School, Brett also was a huge fan of both the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Pittsburgh Steelers, loved to collect Budweiser and Texaco memorabilia and go to the track to either race or cheer on his kids. 

And he and his dogs, well, they had a special bond, too. 

Brett worked hard — remember, he had two jobs for 14 years — to support his family, and the love he had for them was limitless. He knew he had hit the jackpot with Amy and his three children. 

His loss is a terrific blow, for he had so much more life to live, yet he gave those that loved and knew him an infinite number of great memories in his 51 years. 

Brett is survived by his wife Amy Hanson of Waucoma, IA; two daughters, Dulcie Hanson of Castle Rock, CO, Emma Hanson of Waucoma, IA; one son, Noah Hanson of Waucoma, IA; two brothers, Blaine Hanson of West Union, IA, Bryce (Stephanie) Hanson of Hawkeye, IA; mother-in-law, Darlene Robbins of Waucoma, IA; sisters-in-law, Tara (Jason) Drape of Lansing, IA, Angie (Bryan) Kleve of Waucoma, IA; many cousins, nieces & nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law; Bob “Moose” Robbins; sister-in-law Kris Hanson.