Kerry Hanson, son of Kenneth and Jeanette Hanson of Stromsburg, was named the 2003 Honorary Swede at the Swedish Festival Friday evening in the town square. It all started on October 19, 1951, when Kerry was born to Kenneth and Jeanette Hanson. Growing through the early years in the Stromsburg community, Kerry graduated with the SHS Class of 1970. It was then on to the University of Nebraska where he received his degree in speech communication. It was while he lived in Lincoln he met a young lass from Wakefield, NE, by the name of Pam Utecht, and the young couple set out to make a life for themselves in Arizona. The grapevine tells us Stromsburg has remained very important to Kerry Hanson. What success he has had he contributes to his upbringing on the farm near Stromsburg and the examples given him by his parents. Many a time, more than his sons would like, Kerry has impressed his two sons how "rough" it was growing up on the farm. Kerry became associated with American Family Insurance in 1986. He has taken his agency from scratch to one of the largest and most successful in Arizona. He has won numerous awards and has qualified each year for the All American Award and is in the American Family Hall of Fame, and is a member of the Life Diamond Club. His company has asked him many times to assist in training new agents and his district manager advises us Kerry always goes the extra mile to assist. Kerry is known for having a "big heart." He's kind of a pushover when it comes to helping others. This is most evident when helping Spanish people who have come across the Arizona border, looking for a better life. He has adopted two families. He sees to their livelihood, takes from his own time to take the children to Phoenix Suns basketball games or Arizona Cardinals baseball games. He has helped them in trying to obtain citizenship papers. A big heart? Yes, indeed! A retired, elderly minister, without funds for badly needed new teeth, one day was surprised when he was given his new teeth, provided by Kerry Hanson. This is but two examples of his many kind deeds in and around Mesa, AZ. One of Kerry's favorite duties is to speak to driver's education classes in the Mesa area. Here he is given the opportunity to speak of the importance of driving safely. He has received a DECA award from McClintock High School for the many hours he has donated in speaking to the students. Kerry and Pam have two sons, Noah and Macy. When young, Kerry was busy coaching basketball and baseball teams on which his sons competed. The Hanson's youngest son, Macy, was recently given an appointment to West Point Military Academy by Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Macy will report to West Point later this summer. According to Pam, Kerry's wife, the most important thing in his life are their two sons. Pam tells us "they have both made him very proud and he attributes this to both he and she being from Nebraska and having been taught respect, caring and love for other people." The Hanson family attends Living Word Bible Church in Mesa. When in the State of Arizona, Kerry and Pam are always on the lookout for Nebraska license plates. It's impossible to get rid of those Nebraska ties and according to Pam, Kerry will forever be a Stromsburg Viking. Kerry, this honor does include obligations on your part, but with your reputation, it should come easily, almost automatically. You must proudly state, whenever the proper situation arises, that Stromsburg is your hometown and it is the Swede Capital of Nebraska.

Brought to you by The City of Stromsburg and the Stromsburg Chamber of Commerce

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