Bill C. Hann

Bill Hann, 90, of Red Wing, died Saturday, February 22, 2014, at the Mayo Clinic Health System in Red Wing. He was born April 14, 1923, in Ann Arbor, Michigan to Harry and Theodora (Brown) Hann. After graduating high school, he went on to attend the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, receiving a degree in business. In March of 1943, he enlisted in the US Navy and served during WW II until he was honorably discharged in February of 1946. He began working for General Motors and was employed by the Buick Motor Division in Duluth, Minnesota. There he met his wife, Jeannette Monson, and they were united in marriage on December 16, 1950. As a district manager for GM, they moved to different cities throughout the Midwest and after 22 years, he retired in 1971 and bought a hardware store in Stillwater, Minnesota. He later bought a hardware store in Zumbrota in the early 1980's, which he owned and operated until 1989. Jeannette died in 1990 and Bill moved to Red Wing, where he has since resided.
An active and adventurous man, he had enjoyed sailing on Lake Superior and had even built his own sailboat; he obtained his pilot's license and among other planes, learned to fly Ultralight Aircrafts. As an avid golfer, he often had a standing tee-time at Frontenac Golf Course and among his golfing accomplishments, he achieved a hole-in-one. Throughout the years and with his grandchildren, he enjoyed flying kites and building and flying remote-controlled airplanes. He enjoyed reading, especially his three newspapers a day and solving crossword puzzles.

He is survived by his daughters, Sherri (Charles) Berkman of Stafford, Virginia, Susan Hann of St. Louis Park and Kristin Hann (Bruce Martineau) of Maple Grove; 4 grandchildren, Catherine (Matthew) Stout, Kristin Berkman (Drew Taylor), Kaitlin Martineau and Ryan Martineau (fiancée, Courtney Good); 4 great-grandchildren, Joshua, Jordan and Gabriel Stout and Evie Berkman and his close friend, Doris French of Zumbrota.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held at a future date.