Bernard Hanson

Bernard "Bernie" Hanson, 93, of Gladstone, Missouri, passed away May 4, 2012. He grew up in Hayward, Wisconsin, the son of Swedish immigrants and was fascinated by aviation as a boy. Pursuing his dream, Bernard was later employed by the Spartan school of Aeronautics in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he helped train Army Air Corp Cadets during World War II. While in Muskogee, he met and married Melba Jean Bizzell. Following the war, Bernard joined Trans World Airlines relocating him and Melba to Kansas City. Bernard was employed by TWA for 37 years as a flight engineer and pilot and worked in the flight training department during the airlines transition from propeller aircraft to jets. Bernard was selected to be on the flight crew for the presidential and campaign charters of Eisenhower-Nixon and Adlai Stevenson, 1952-1954, as well as a State Department tour of the USA by Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia in 1955. Bernard was predeceased by his wife Melba in 2008. He leaves behind two children, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. A family service will be held with burial at Mt. Moriah Terrace Park in Kansas City. We love you "Grandpa", have a nice flight ----. Arrangements under the direction of Mt. Moriah Terrace Park Funeral Home; 801 N.W. 108th Street; Kansas City, MO (816) 734-5500

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