David A. Hanson

Prominent Topeka attorney, David A Hanson, age 71, died peacefully, on the morning of September 1, 2020, from Parkinson's disease.

Dave was born on March 26, 1949, the third of six children of Dean and Dorothy Hanson of rural Jamestown, Kansas.

Dave excelled in scholastics at Concordia High School and developed a strong work ethic on the family farm along with a penchant for orneriness as can only be learned from five other siblings.

Dave attended K-State and became a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, forming many lifelong friendships there. After graduation, he attended Washburn Law School in Topeka, graduating in 1974. While at Washburn, he was hired to work as a law clerk at the firm Glenn, Cornish, & Leuenberger and later became partner and subsequently President of the firm Glenn, Cornish, Hanson & Karns.

During his distinguished and respected law career, he served as legal counsel for many organizations, including the Kansas Insurance Education Foundation, Kansas Mutual Insurance Company, Shawnee County Consolidated Rural Water District #1. He also served as legislative counsel for the Kansas Association of Property and Casualty Insurance Companies, the Kansas Life Insurance Association, and the National Association of Independent Insurers. It was also his privilege to serve as a board member of the Kansas Committee on Arson Prevention, Kansas Mutual Insurance Company (director for 23 years), Sheltered Living (president), Shawnee County Consolidated Rural Water District #1, Armed Forces Insurance Exchange, and Mutual Aid Exchange.

Dave was a member of the Kansas Bar Association as well as the Topeka Bar Association.

In 2000, Dave was appointed by then Governor Bill Graves and confirmed by the Kansas Senate to serve as one of the seven commissioners on the Kansas Human Rights Commission.

Preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy (Schroth) Hanson, and father, Dean Hanson. Survivors include his beloved daughter, Alexis Hanson of Topeka; sister, Debra Hiett of Manhattan; brother, Douglas Hanson of Concordia; brother, Dirk (Karen) Hanson of Olathe; brother, Drew (Brenda) Hanson of Wichita; brother, Dane (Brenda) Hanson of Jamestown; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces & great-nephews; and a host of friends who will miss his warm smile, positive outlook and easy going manner.

His passions included almost any activity involving his daughter Alexis, time with friends, guitar playing (especially leading congregation in worship on Sunday mornings), gardening, woodworking, K-State athletics, assisting his favorite geese, Norman and Gladys with their annual nest building on his pond, hunting, and campfires in the woods (aka: woodsy)

A memorial visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 from 10:30 to 11:00 A.M. followed by a memorial service at 11:00 A.M. both being held at the Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with the Parkinson’s Foundation Heartland, 8900 State Line Rd., Ste: 320, Leawood, KS 66206.

To share a memory or to leave condolences, please visit Dave’s memorial webpage at www.brennanmathenafh.com.