Robert A. Hanson

Robert A. Hanson, 91, of Moline, Illinois, and Jupiter Island, Florida, former Chairman and CEO of Deere & Company, died Thursday, May 19, 2016, in Jupiter Medical Center, Jupiter, Florida

Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, 701 12th Street, Moline, with visitation from 10 to 11 a.m. The Reverend Larry Conway will officiate. Following the service, friends are invited to join the family at a luncheon and hospitality gathering at CityView Celebrations at Trimble Pointe. Burial at Moline Memorial Park will follow the luncheon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Augustana College or the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.

Robert Arthur Hanson was born December 13, 1924, in Moline, Illinois, to Nels Arthur and Margaret Chapman Hanson. He graduated from Augustana College in 1948, and served in the US Marine Corps. He married Patricia Klinger on June 25, 1955, in Chicago.

He began his career with Deere in 1950, with various assignments in Moline, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Guatemala, In 1964, he took over Deere's operations in Spain, and in 1966, became marketing director of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He returned to Moline in 1970, was elected Senior Vice President in 1972, and given responsibility for the firm's overseas division in 1973. He was elected to the board of directors in 1974, succeeded Ellwood Curtis as president in 1978, and became chief operating officer in 1979. Hanson was named president, chief executive officer, and chairman of the board in 1982, becoming the first non-Deere family member to run the company. He retired as chairman in 1990.

Nationally, Mr. Hanson was a board member for the Committee for Economic Development, the President's Commission on Industrial Competiveness, the Iowa High Technology Commission, the Mayo Foundation, Augustana College Agenda for Leadership and Authentically Augustana programs, and The Conference Board. He served on the board of directors for several companies, including Merrill Lynch, R. R. Donnelley and Son, Procter and Gamble, Texas Instruments, and Continental Illinois Corp., and was a member of the International Council of J. P. Morgan, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Business Council. He co-founded the Business Council of Retired CEOs.

He was an active supporter of Augustana College, Junior Achievement, and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, and a member of Jupiter Island Club, Seminole Golf Club, Rod & Gun Club, Crow Valley Country Club, The Outing Club, and Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club.

Bob is survived by his wife of 61 years, Patricia K. Hanson; niece Lisa Wood and her husband Mark of West Chester, Ohio; and great-nieces, Allison Wood of San Antonio, Texas, and Pamela Wood and Jennifer Wood of West Chester, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Marjorie and Kenneth Suss.

Remembrances and condolences may be left for the family at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.