Hanson married Luise Voss on November 14, 1935, and in 1937, they purchased Hanson’s Furniture and Funeral Home. Hanson drew his first national exposure in 1947 with a Time magazine article that featured a unique sales promotion for his store. It allowed customers to exchange farm produce for furniture and appliances. In 1948, Hanson also became a partner in an …

John K. Hanson was born on a farm near Thor, Iowa, on June 22, 1913, and soon after, he and his family moved to Forest City. He graduated from Waldorf College in 1932, and in 1934, received a Bachelor of Science degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota. At the time, he was the youngest person to receive …