Dr. Lyle Eugene Hanson, Indianapolis, formerly of Urbana, passed away December 19, at Clarian West Medical Center in Avon, Indiana. He was born October 2, 1920 in Sarona, Wisconsin, to Fred and Marion Bergquist Hanson. He completed elementary and high school education in Ashland, Wisconsin, and graduated from Northland College, Ashland, Wisconsin with a degree in biology in 1942. He volunteered for the armed services and served four years at Walter Reed Medical Center where he was involved in research in veterinary medicine and biological warfare. He married the former Ruth Allene Magruder on June 26, 1945 at Ashford General Hospital (now the Greenbriar Hotel) in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. Following the war, he enrolled in the college of veterinary medicine at Michigan State University, graduating in 1950. He accepted a position at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. While there, he also completed his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. He retired from the University of Illinois in 1985 as the Associate Dean of Research at the Veterinary College. He was internationally known for his research in lepto spirosis. AAAA During this time, he also traveled to Jamaica on numerous occasions while working on a grant from the World Health Organization (WHO). He was named a Special Service Award Winner of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1997 and outstanding alumnus of the Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999. He was also honored by Norden Laboratories for research work on a vaccine.

He was preceded in death by parents, his wife Ruth and his brother Robert. He is survived by four children: Pastor Bruce (Connie) Hanson, Farmersburg, Iowa; Karen Malocha, Longwood, Florida; Craig (Carolyn) Hanson, Indianapolis; Jane Becker, McKinney Texas, ten grandchildren: Angela Primrose, Rochelle, Illinois; Aaron Hanson, Davenport, Iowa; Linnette (Normand) Francois, Longwood, Florida; Curtis Malocha, Tampa, Florida; Troy Hanson, Franklin, Ohio; Heather (Andrew) Storteboom, Ft. Collins, Colorado; Ryan Becker and Christine Deen, both of Charlotte, North Carolina; Jennifer and Alexandra Becker, both of McKinney Texas, and four great grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister: Gladys Raye (Paul) Eaton, Sedona, Arizona and two brothers: Wayne Hanson, White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Elmer Hanson, Minneapolis.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Urbana, the Urbana Exchange Club, the American Veterinary Medical Association, Illinois Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Society of Microbiology.

Funeral services will be at First Presbyterian Church of Urbana at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 22. Rev. Don Mason will officiate. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. - 8: 00 p.m. Friday evening, December 21, at Renner-Wikoff Chapel & Crematory 1900 S. Philo Rd. Urbana.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Northland College scholarship fund in Ashland, Wisconsin. Condolences may be sent to renner-wikoffchapel.com.