We are sad to report that Perch Base Life and Holland Club member and SVWWII member Robert Norman Hanson went on Eternal Patrol at the age of 99 on August 17, 2020 with his son Glen by his side.
Our condolences to his son Glen Hanson, daughter Ellen Austin and other members of the family.
Both Bob (Little Swede) and his older brother, Henry Howard Hanson (Big Swede) were crewmembers on the Seawolf (SS‑197), and Bob was the last surviving member of the original Seawolf crew. Bob enlisted when he was 18 in 1940, a year after his brother. They were both in Manila Bay on the Seawolf in the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He was lucky to be transferred to another sub before the Seawolf was sunk with all hands lost due to friendly fire in 1944.
Bob's first two assignments were the USS Cero (SS‑225) and USS Threadfin (SS‑410). It was then, in 1941, that he was assigned to the Seawolf and qualified in submarines and completed 9 war patrols. After the Seawolf, he was assigned to the USS Guitarro (SS‑363) in 1944 as a plankowner where he completed 4 more war patrols prior to the end of World War 2.
After the war, Bob served on the USS Silversides (SS‑236) in 1945, USS Corsair (SS‑435) from 1946-1948, USS Sea Poacher (SS‑406) from 1953 to 1955, becoming a Chief Engineman (ENC). He also served on the USS Tautog (SS‑199) from 1955 to 1958 and finally the USS Crevalle (SS‑291) from 1958 to 1959. He served twenty years on subs until his retirement in 1959.
After retiring from the navy he continued to proudly serve his country working for the government in the Armed Forces training new personnel.
His Memorial and interment will be deferred due to the pandemic. Announcement to come.

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Bob Hanson participated in an interview on Marfa, TX, public radio on December 23, 2013, discussing his WW2 experiences. Listen to his interview (about 36 minutes long) HERE.

Bob's boats:

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OBITUARY
Published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune August 30, 2020
Hanson, Robert Norman
We are sad to announce that Robert passed away peacefully at the age of 99 on August 17, 2020 with his son Glen by his side. He was preceded in death by his first beloved wife Marilyn (Hoepner) Hanson, and second beloved wife Margie (Loffhagen) Hanson. He is survived by his son Glen Hanson and daughter Ellen Austin, 3 Grandchildren, Kris Hanson, Jessica Eide, Rob Austin and many great and great great grandchildren. Robert was born in 1921 on a small farm in Neillsville Wisconsin. He and his three brothers worked on the farm and went to school in Chippewa Falls where he would meet and marry his high school sweetheart Marilyn Hoepner.
He was a proud and decorated WWII veteran.
He and his brother were part of the original crew of SS‑197, the Seawolf, and they were in Manila Bay in the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was bombed. He was lucky to be transferred to another sub before the Seawolf was sunk with all hands lost. He went on to serve twenty years on subs until his retirement in 1959.
Robert and his wife Marilyn had two children together Glen and Ellen and served at many naval bases including New London, Connecticut, Key West, Florida and shore duty in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
In the 1960's the family made their permanent home in the Bloomington suburb of Minnesota. After retiring from the navy he continued to proudly serve his country working for the government in Armed Forces training new personnel.
In retirement he loved to regale interested listeners with many exciting and sometimes hysterically funny stories of his life's adventures. He took up wood carving and working on his model T Ford as hobbies. He made and gifted everyone he met with beautiful carvings. He was an exceptionally generous, positive and loving man and he will be missed by many.
To honor his memory his remaining family will humbly strive to embrace the grace and gratitude he displayed for all that life has to offer. The family is grateful for the almost 30 years of care administered by the staff of Fellowship Square, Mesa Arizona. Memorial and interment will be deferred due to pandemic. Announcement to come.