John Hans

Memorial services for John Hans, Jr. 91 of Cookeville will be Sunday, September 18 at 5 P.M. from the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Military honors by the veterans Honor Guard. He will be returned to Alaska where a private disposition will take place for his, Dorothy's and Darla's cremains. Mr. Hans passed away Friday, September 16, 2016 at his home. He was born July 4, 1925 in Verdel, Nebraska to the late John Sr. and Martha Bird Hans. As a child, John divided his time between the family farm in Nebraska and summers in his mother's birthplace on the Blackfeet Indian reservation in Montana. After high school he married Dorothy (McCloud) Hans. He left farming soon after his son Johnny was born and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he spent the next 20 years stationed in England, Thailand, Alaska and around the United States. John and Dorothy raised six children. After retiring from the Air Force, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico before returning to Alaska, where John finished his working years employed in the oil fields of Alaska. After Dorothy's death in 1995, John married Eloise (Jones) Hans and subsequently moved to be near Eloise's family in Cookeville, Tennessee where he was able to enjoy a return to his farming roots raising cows and tending to his garden. He and Eloise enjoyed many adventures traveling around the world. He was a retired Tech Sergeant in the Air Force serving in the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. He was a member of the Cookeville Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by wife of 50 years, Dorothy, sons William Dean and Johnny, and his daughter Darla who preceded him in death by just 3 hours, and step-granddaughter, Rachel Smith. He is survived by wife of 20 years Eloise "Teri", and four children: Carolyn, Janet (Grace), Richard (Mary Sue) and Shariee Hans and daughter-in-law Marie Prehiem , 9 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 1 geat-great grandchild, step-daughter Darlene Armstrong- Smith (Michael), step-sons Daniel (Nancy) Jones, Dennis (Sylvia) Jones, Dale (Stephanie) Jones, 14 step-grandchildren, 30 step-great-grandchildren. Family will receive friends Sunday from 4 to 5 PM at the funeral home. The family extends their sincere, heartfelt gratitude for the amazing support from all the people who supported the family during this difficult time, with a special thank you to all the employees of both Cumberland and Avalon Hospice. Special thanks to Sean and Andrea. Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931)526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.