Lawrence Hansberger

Lawrence Eugene "Hans" Hansberger of Cape Girardeau died Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005, at Saxony Village at the age of 92.

He was born Dec. 26, 1912, in Marshall, Mo., to Joshua and Ida Amanda Arnold Hansberger.

As a small child he survived smallpox in Oklahoma City, Okla. He grew up in the railroad towns of White Hall and Roodhouse, Ill.

After earning his B.A. in social studies education from Western Illinois University in 1932, he taught and coached football in Oblong, Ill.

A son, John Dennis, was born to his marriage to Virginia Ricks. Hans and Alice "Billie" Grant eloped to St. Charles, Mo., Nov. 7, 1942.

Hansberger served in the U.S. Army Air Corps in Europe as a B-52 mechanic, and worked at an Army PX in Paris after the war. Back home he coached and taught history in Virden and Toluca, Ill., where children Ida, Jane and Ted were born.

After completing his M.A. in educational administration at Western Illinois University, Hansberger became district superintendent of schools and elementary principal in Cuba, Ill.

He was active in community affairs, including the American Legion, Lions Club, Fulton County Safety Council, and the United Methodist Church. He pursued a doctoral program at Bradley University and earned an ABD. He was four times elected Fulton County superintendent of schools, serving from 1958 to 1974, and gained recognition for the number of teacher education scholarships he awarded.

Following his retirement in 1974, Hans and Billie traveled in the United States, played golf and spent winters in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he had trained during the war.

Known as a storyteller, Hans left his family and friends a legacy of tales of his experiences growing up in a railroad town, riding the rails, and hitchhiking during the Great Depression, participating in the allied assaults in Europe, and teaching generations of students.

He and Billie moved to Cape Girardeau in May 2005.

Hansberger is survived by his wife, Billie of Cape Girardeau; children, John Dennis (Connie) Moulton of Sarasota, Fla., Ida (Bruce) Domazlicky of Cape Girardeau, Jane (James) Clayberg of Siloam Springs, Ark., Ted (Heidi) Hansberger of Hood River, Ore.; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call Sunday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Scott Moon officiating. Burial will be in Lorimier Cemetery with a military honors service.

A memorial service will be held later in Cuba, Ill.

Memoriams in his name may be made to Lutheran Home Hospice of Cape Girardeau.

McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements.