SOS-0009 December 2022 - Honoring Kenneth George Hanson
July 12, 1928 - July 12, 2021, La Mesa, California
Trustee, Vice President, President 2004-2006 of the Spreckels Organ Society
According to Dr. Dean Crowder, fellow Spreckels Trustee and college roommate of Ken’s, “He was very serious and studious during our time together at UC Berkeley. He was focused on getting into medical school. But Ken always made time for his love of music and even in his senior year at Berkeley, he made time to play the organ at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.”
Crowder said that he and Ken lost contact during their medical residencies and military service, but reconnected in La Mesa in 1960 when Ken and his wife Jacquie settled, began a family, and began his medical practice. Crowder shared that in addition to his love of family and patients, Ken continued his love of music, joining the Spreckels Organ Society membership.
Through the years, Ken served as Trustee, Vice President and President of the Spreckels Organ Society. He volunteered with numerous community organizations, including the Music Scholarship Council and the American Cancer Society. He served as a medical missionary to Papua, New Guinea and the Navajo Nation in Arizona.
Lyle Blackinton, founder of Blackinton and Associates, Spreckels Organ Curator Emeritus, and one of the founding members of the Spreckels Organ Society said, “I first became acquainted with Dr. Ken Hanson while he was my parent’s highly esteemed personal physician. Through our conversations my family and I became aware that both Ken and I shared a mutual interest in pipe organs and were connected. He came by my shop and we had many good conversations concerning pipe organs.”
“Ken brought strong but calm leadership and was a wonderful advocate for the Society”, Blackinton said. “As you look at his accomplishments, you can see that he was a true renaissance man, making his impact on people’s lives through medicine, his church, public service, music and other arts. If I had a son, I would hope that he would grow up to become a Ken Hanson.”
Obituary published by San Diego Union-Tribune on Aug. 1, 2021.
Kenneth George Hanson was called to his eternal, heavenly home on July 12, 2021, his 93rd birthday. Ken was born in Upland, California to Kenneth Ian Hanson and Delta Paris Hanson. At the age of eight, the family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended Punahou, graduating in 1946. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a degree in Zoology in 1950. Dr. Hanson graduated from University of California, San Francisco Medical School in 1954. That summer, Ken met his future wife, Jacquelyn "Jacquie" Bagley at Minneapolis General Hospital where he was an internal medicine intern, and she was working as a nurse.
From 1955 1957, Dr. Hanson served as a captain in the United States Army Medical Corps stationed in Munich, Germany. Following his service, he returned to Minnesota to marry his "best gal" on March 8, 1958. Dr. Hanson continued his residency at Minneapolis General before completing his training at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco in 1960.
Later that year, Ken and Jacquie and their two young sons relocated to Lemon Grove, where Dr. Hanson began his affiliation with La Mesa Internal Medicine Group. The family, now with three daughters to join their sons, moved to La Mesa in 1969 and Dr. Hanson continued his successful internal medicine practice until his retirement in 1993.
Throughout his medical career, he was committed to the care of his patients, even making house calls to those who were not able to travel to his office. His patients described him as thoughtful, caring, thorough, and genuine. One colleague described him as "not only the best physician I've even known, but also the best man I've ever known".
Ken's service didn't stop at caring for his patients. He also served as President of the Spreckels Organ Society, President of the San Diego chapter of the American Cancer Society, President of the East County Grossmont Community Association and dedicated his time and expertise to many other medical and community organizations, including as a docent at the Heritage of the Americas Museum. He served as a medical missionary to the indigenous people of Papua, New Guinea and the people of the Navajo Nation in Arizona.
Ken and Jacquie were faithful members of Lemon Grove Lutheran Church for over 60 years. They also opened their home and hearts to numerous foster children.
Ken had a lifelong love of ships, fostered by his many travels from Hawaii to California during his youth. Music was an integral part of his life, and he contributed his time to the Music Scholarship Council and the Four Seasons Music Group. He loved to play the piano and organ, travel, and was a voracious reader.
Ken is survived by his wife of 63 wonderful years, Jacquelyn Pearl (Bagley) Hanson, Ian & Donna Hanson, Peter & Shawn Hanson, Martha & John Bacon, Janet & Brad Houghton, Lyn & Tracy Donohue, 12 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. While we grieve our earthy loss, we celebrate his victory by grace, through his faith in Jesus Christ, and are confident, that in God's perfect time, we will be reunited for eternity in God's presence. A celebration of life was held on Saturday, September 18th, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Foothills United Methodist Church, 4031 Avocado Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91941. Hawaiian attire or business casual attire suggested. Memorial donations may be made to: Spreckels Organ Society (www.spreckelsorgan.org), Grossmont Hospital Foundation (www.give.sharp.com/grossmont-foundation), and Samoa/Lutheran Feeding Ministry 2055 Skyline Drive, Lemon Grove, CA 91945.
In his memory, Ken’s family is sponsoring the Spreckels Organ Society’s December 17, 2022 Christmas concert with San Diego Opera.