Rolf Henry Luther Hanson, age 66, of Parker, Texas, passed away November 19, 2016 after a valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. Rolf was born June 20, 1950, in Washington, D.C., to Henry and Mildred (Bernsten) Hanson, Jr. He married Betsy Carrell on June 24, 1989, in Charlottesville, Virginia.
He is survived by his wife, Betsy Hanson of Parker, Texas; son, Zachary Hanson of Richmond, Virginia; sister, Ingrid Butler and husband, Frank of Alexandria, Virginia; nieces, Kristina Butler and husband, Zachariah Hennighausen of Boston, Massachusetts, Maija Butler and Lisa Butler, both of Alexandria, Virginia, and a host of other loving family members and friends across the U.S. and Europe.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Rolf’s childhood was spent in Bethesda, Maryland where he attended Wyngate Elementary School, North Bethesda Jr. High, Walter Johnson High School, and the University of Maryland. He spent two years in Helsinki, Finland where his father served as a Diplomat at the American Embassy. As a youth, he swam, played football and hockey, and skied. Rolf was a lifelong fan of the Washington Redskins even after moving from Virginia to Dallas two years ago. He enjoyed trips to Sweden, France, Connecticut, and Detroit to visit his loving cousins and other relatives.
Rolf was a musician his entire life, playing guitar and bass with bands including the Renegades, Dubonettes, Charlie and the Pep Boys, Johnny Artis, Big Joe and the Dynaflows, Cathy Ponton King, Red Hot Swingin’ Johnsons, and the Cold Steel Benders.
The Hanson family has enjoyed summers boating, water-skiing, and gardening at their cottage, Hansägarden, in Smithfield, Virginia since 1972.
Rolf was a talented gardener and artistic landscaper. He loved to cook and bake, skills he learned as a boy from his beloved mother. He collected vintage cars, jukeboxes, hi-fi, and vinyl records with an authentic appreciation of American and European culture. He had a larger than life personality that could fill a room and have everyone laughing. Above all, he was a devoted son, husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend.
Rolf’s family would like to thank the team of physicians and nurses at Issels Immuno-Oncology, Texas Oncology, The Medical Center of Plano, and Compassus for their support and care.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A memorial service will be held in January 2017 in the Washington, DC area. To learn more of his story, visit CaringBridge.org.