Mark Severin Hanson, 81, Passes Away
By Debbie // May 31, 2012
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA — Mark Severin Hanson, 81, was born August 10, 1930, in Zion, Illinois, to parents, Severin Hanson and Helen Hanson, passed away March 4, 2012.
He attended Zion-Benton Township High School.
After graduating from high school, he and his parents moved to Roseland, Florida, where he helped his father build houses.
In 1951, joined the U.S. Air Force, serving 4 years during the Korean Conflict.
Blessed with a beautiful bass-baritone voice. Upon returning from Korea, he decided to go to Florida State University and major in music. He received two degrees, a Bachelors of music education, and a Masters of music education.
In 1964, he married Marolyn Shannon who was teaching in Vero Beach, Florida. They have two children, Mark Shannon Hanson, who preceded his father in death, and Dr. Holly Victoria Vance, a veterinarian in Ocala, Florida.
They settled in Cocoa, Florida, where Mr. Hanson was a member of the humanties-music staff of Brevard Community College for twenty five years. In addition to his duties at BCC, he performed solos with the University of Florida Concert Band and Orchestra, Florida State Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony and the BCC Concert Band. He also performed the bass solos in Handels Messiah and operatic roles of Don Basilio in Rossini’s Barber of Seville, Sir John Falstaff in the Merry Wives of Windsor, and Coline in Puccini’s La Boheme.
While at BCC, Mr. Hanson directed the Brevard chorale, a community chorus, taking them on five concert tours of Italy, England, Scotland, Wales, Israel, Scandinavia, Holland, Germany, and Austria.
After retiring, he and Marolyn built a house in Hiawassee, Georgia in the mountains. They joined Sharpes Memorial Methodist Church in Young Harris, Georgia where they both sung in the choir and the Mountain Community Chorus.
After five years, Mr. Hanson’s declining health forced them to move to Ocala, Florida. They joined Ocala West United Methodist Church and sung in the choir there.
He surely must be singing in heaven now. We’ll miss his good humor and ever-present smile.
His love of travel turned to cruising and he was able to enjoy many before he passed away on March 4, 2012.
He is survived by his loving wife, Marolyn; daughter, Holly and her husband, Scotty Vance; and six grandchildren, Bradley, Gavin, and Lauren Vance of Ocala, Florida, Nicole Hanson of Portsmouth, Virginia, Austin and Haley Hanson of Middletown, Ohio.
A viewing will be on Sunday, March 11, 2012, from 1 – 2 pm, at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Ocala, Florida, with a Funeral Service to follow to be conducted by Pastor Alan Jefferson. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens, Ocala, Florida.
Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn Funeral Home Ocala, Florida.
