Edward James Hanson, known to his friends and family as Eddie, passed away peacefully at his home on June 1, 2025. Eddie was first and foremost a Texas cowboy! And secondly a gentleman. His mom taught him good manners!

Born on March 10, 1949 to James Hanson and Othello D. Land (John A. Land). He was the oldest of six children, brothers William Hanson, Terry (Karen) Land & Larry (Dovie) Land and sisters JoAnn Hanson & Patricia Valentine. Eddie is survived by his sister, Patricia and several nieces and nephews; Shawn (Angela) Land, Joshua Land & Terry (Kalie) Land Jr, Michelle Valentine, Taylor (Kyle) Dancer, Kendall Land, Brandy Land, Terri Gail Land, Kandis Land, and Chastidy (Eric) Johnston, his Aunt Phyllis (Gaylen) Heidzig, as well as many great nieces and nephews; Braylen, Rylan, Paxton, Ethen, Donovan, Korban, Alex, Dominic, Cash, Colt & London, Kylee, Masie-Lynn, Mikala, Milasia, Chloe, Kayli, Rainey and 1 more newborn. Also dear to Eddie were his close friends; Shilo Morton, Eugene (Pete) Huey & Chad Shoemaker.

Eddie lived most of his childhood in Texas and moved to Kansas with his mom in 1998 as they wanted to live closer to relatives that lived near Hiawatha. Eddie began receiving services from Brown County Developmental Services in 1998 and quickly became part of the BCDS family. His Texas drawl never went away!

Eddie loved returning to Texas to visit his sister Patricia. He loved returning home to tell stories about hanging out at her bar and visiting with the customers. Eddie always wore his cowboy jeans and snap button shirts with his many different ball caps. He did dress up a little more to attend high school proms as he worked there in the cafeteria.

Eddie liked to work in the community and was a USD 415 employee for 19 years before retiring in 2021. He loved knowing the high school staff and students and attending football and basketball games, not necessarily because he liked sports but because he liked visiting with people at the game who he knew from working at the high school and getting his popcorn!

Eddie's apartment was always decorated with cowboy art—especially any John Wayne paintings! He also loved Christmas and having a small Christmas tree and lights up all year round. He enjoyed watching cowboy movies, Walker Texas Ranger and wrestling. Eddie was also a cat lover. He leaves his cat Cookie in the care of Apache folks who love her also.

Eddie was an important part of the BCDS family and the Hiawatha community and will be greatly missed by all who enjoyed his Texas drawl and ability to converse in a gentlemanly way. I'm sure he will find John Wayne in heaven when he gets there.

Services for Eddie are planned for 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 9, 2025, at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha. Shane Spangler will officiate. Private inurnment will at the Rulo Cemetery, Rulo, Nebraska.Memorial contributions are suggested to BCDS which may be left in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434. www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com