Hanley, Willard

Willard Beattie Hanley, age 97, of Fairmont, MN was born on October 30, 1914 in Waupaca, WI, the son of William and Elsie (Beattie) Hanley. He went home to be with his Lord on January 15, 2012 at the Lutz Wing Nursing Home in Fairmont. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 12:00 (Noon) at First Baptist Church, Waupaca, with visitation beginning at 10:30 am and a lunch to follow at Shadow Woods. Interment will be held at Central WI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, King, WI. Willard was raised in Waupaca and graduated from Waupaca High School in 1932. He was active in the First Baptist Church where he accepted the Lord at an early age. Following high school he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCCs) in Eagle River, Wisconsin. He went on to graduate from Oshkosh State Teachers College in 1939. Willard served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1945. He was stationed at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana and Camp Howze, Texas before being sent overseas in 1944. His unit was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and also spent time in Austria and Germany. While on furlough on May 23, 1943, he married Carol Ayres in Waupaca. They went on to share 67 years of marriage before her death in November of 2010. Following the war, Willard and Carol settled in the Chicago area where Willard began a long and successful career in sales, primarily for the Servus Rubber Company. Most of Willard and Carol’s married life was spent in Skokie, IL where they raised their three children, Susan, Bill and Debbie. Willard was a very active member of Skokie Valley Baptist Church where he faithfully served as a deacon, Boys Brigade leader and on the visitation committee. In 1980, Willard and Carol retired to Ruskin, FL where they wintered for 14 years and were members of Trinity Baptist Church. In 1994, they moved back to their hometown of Waupaca, WI where they lived at Shadow Woods and were able to renew many old friendships, especially at First Baptist Church. During that time, Willard and Carol were members of the Seniors Group at First Baptist Church and Willard was a faithful visitor to residents at the Bethany Nursing Home. In 2007 they moved to Fairmont, MN to be close to their daughter and her family. Willard lived at Goldfinch Estates until moving to the Lutz Wing Nursing Home in November, 2011. Willard was a faithful servant of the Lord, a prayer warrior until the end and provided a wonderful legacy of faith for his entire family. Willard is survived by his children, Sue Anderson (Dr. Mark) of Fairmont, MN; Bill Hanley (Lori) of Vadnais Heights, MN, and Debbie Szymczyk (Blair) of San Marcos, CA; five grandchildren: Eric Anderson (Miriam), Krista Nuessle (Steve), Brent Anderson, Laura Wright (Ned) and Spencer Hanley; five great-grandchildren: Jordan, Taylor, Gracie, Ethan and Christian Anderson; sister-in-law Adeline Ayres of Waupaca and many nieces and nephews. Willard was preceded in death by his wife, four sisters and one brother. The Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca is assisting the family with arrangements.