John A. Hanson

John A. Hanson, 74 of Hancock, passed away with his family by his side, at Monadnock Community Hospital on October 14, 2023.   He was born at Monadnock Community Hospital on February 14, 1949, the son of Loran and Eudine (Muncil) Hanson.

John married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth (Cox) Hanson in 1968 and they made their home and raised their family in Peterborough.  He was a lifelong resident of Peterborough until his retirement when he moved to Hancock.

John was the owner and operator of Hanson Construction, a company he originally shared with his father and brother before taking over the business.  He worked with several local contractors and did extensive work for the Town of Peterborough.  His work for the town included, but was not limited to, development of the Steele Road culvert, Noone’s Falls storm drain, town water and sewer extensions for several areas in town including Mercer Ave, Grove Street and Old Street Road and the West Peterborough water tank project.  His work has impacted nearly all areas of Peterborough.   He was also called upon for emergencies and missed many dinners and holidays serving the Town of Peterborough.  He used his equipment and expertise overhauling major fires in the area including the Peterborough High School and the Peterborough Landfill fires, repairing water main breaks, and everything snow-related for more than three decades.  Other projects in town included infrastructure work at MacDowell Colony, the skating rink at Adam’s Playground, the ball field at Peterborough Elementary School, and Cunningham Pond Park.   He donated much of his time for recreational projects.

John was an avid hunter and enjoyed fishing with family and friends.  He spent many hours in the woods and on the water with his grandchildren, and many of his grandchildren’s friends, teaching them the sportsmanship of hunting and fishing.   He was an early member of the Peterborough Sportsman’s Club where he was recognized with several awards and was instrumental in the development of the archery range.

During his retirement, he and Liz enjoyed traveling with many close friends and spending their winters in Bonita Springs, FL with old family friends from NH and new friends made in Bonita Springs.   He also spent many hours taking care of the property at their home in Hancock that included the Christmas Tree Farm, Kimball Brook Farm, where he would delight in bringing families into the fields on his tractor donned with Christmas lights and covered in hay with a hot chocolate in hand.

Along with his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth, John is survived by his daughters Kimberly (Hanson) Sweeney, and her husband Shane, and Julie (Hanson) Thibault, and her husband Paul.  It can’t be overstated how much he loved, and was loved, by his grandchildren, Kaitlynn Mello and her husband Jeremiah, Shane J. Sweeney, Jr. (Joey) and his fiancé Jennifer Chouinard, Ryan Thibault, and Rebecca Thibault; his great-grandson Carter Mello, to whom he was lovingly known as “Bump” and his “best friend”, and his yet-born great-granddaughter arriving in January.  He will also be missed by his brother, Robert Hanson (Mary) and his sister Linda Greene (Frank) as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and close friends.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his sister Patricia Coderre and brothers Loran (Sonny) and Thomas Hanson.

A reception to celebrate John’s life will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2023, from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the Monadnock Country Club, 49 High Street, Peterborough, NH.  Burial will be private for the family.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Happy Valley School, PO Box 26, Peterborough, NH 03458, where three generations of John’s family have been lovingly educated, his granddaughter now teaches, and is befitting of the Hanson legacy of nearly a century on Gulf Road where the original school was located for more than 5 decades.