Bill Hanna 74, dearly loved son, brother, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, passed away at his home on November 1, 2009, after a bout with cancer. His family, friends and community members will lovingly remember Bill as a man who loved life, family, and his community.
Bill was born in Gilroy in 1935 to Sandoe and Mildred Hanna. He went through local schools and was an outstanding athlete at Gilroy High School in football and track. He received all league honors in football plus most valuable player awards, graduating in 1953. He then served his country in the Naval forces as a ‘Seabee’ in the construction battalion, stationed on Kwajalein/Marshall Island in the South Pacific and Kodiak Island in Alaska.
After the service he went on to become a Party Chief for W.J. Hanna and Son Engineering with whom he worked until his retirement. Bill met and married his wife Alice in 1963 and started a family shortly thereafter.
Bill and Alice raised their family in Gilroy where he was active in coaching his children’s Little League baseball and softball teams.
In later years he moved from coaching his three kids to watching his grandkids—seldom missing a game. He maintained a lifelong passion for Giants baseball, 49’er football, and Sharks hockey; he loved working in his walnut orchard, and watching his grandson Brennan play baseball. He read at least a book a week, and never stopped being fascinated by narrow gauge steam engine trains. Trains were an enormous passion; he went on many trips to ride different railroads in New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Alaska, and Canada. He had recently gone on two such trips with his children to Colorado and Nevada to ride Cumbres Toltec, Durango Rio Grande, and the Virginia and Truckee railroads, the last one being the week before his death.
Bill is survived by his parents Sandoe and Mildred, of Gilroy, brothers Roy Hanna of Sacramento, Tom Hanna (Kathy) of AK, children Rick Papo of MI, Bruce Hanna (Tina) of Gilroy, Wendy Wilson (Jeff) of Gilroy, Laurie Gallegos (Michael) of Gilroy, grandchildren Will Hanna, Amy Hanna, Brennan Wilson, Owen Gallegos, Ella Gallegos, great-grandchild Nicole Hanna. He was preceded in death by his sister Sandra Hanna who passed in 2005.
His family and his heritage were of great importance. He loved sharing his knowledge of geography and history. He also enjoyed taking short road trips that usually involved visiting train museums or scenic wonders such as Yosemite, Kings Canyon or Sequoia National Parks. The family will always remember Bill’s strength, knowledge and love of life. He was an inspiration to all of us and we learned a lot from his words and actions. Memorial Services will be at a later date, and a future announcement will follow.
