Joseph Conrad Hanna, 44, formerly of Abingdon, IL, left this world on Thursday, February 6, 2025, in Cudahy, WI.
He was born on August 13, 1980, in Galesburg, IL, the son of Rick and Jeanie (Schenck) Hanna. They survive. He married Nichole Goldbeck, the mother of his only child, on September 21, 2002. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Jarek Paul Hanna and Cassity Layne (Lipke) Hanna, of Caledonia, WI.
He is also survived by two sisters and a brother-in-law. These are Tara L. (Hanna) Lancaster, Boise, ID, and Dana M. (Hanna) Thrasher and Ryan E. Thrasher of Moline, IL. He also had a stillborn sister, Diana Rose Ann Hanna in 1982.
He had three nephews, then three nieces. They are Rowen G. Lancaster, Milen M. Lancaster, and Grayson M. Lancaster, all of Boise, ID, and JoLee D. Thrasher, Glenna K. Thrasher, and Maevis H. Thrasher, all of Moline, IL.
He is also survived by two stepchildren, Tyler Rice and Casey Rice, both of Wisconsin.
Joseph (Joe, JC) was educated K-12 in Abingdon School District #217, and graduated with honors in 1998. His freshman and sophomore years of college were at Illinois State University, Normal, IL, while his junior and senior years were at the University of Wisconsin, Parkside. He graduated with a B.S. in Criminal Justice.
During his school years, Joe participated in football, basketball, baseball and track. He put the most effort into basketball, which he loved most. He represented the Abingdon Commandos in the state dunk contest, held at Bradley University in Peoria, IL. He played summer basketball in the NAYB traveling league for several summers, and played in NAYB Nationals in Bloomington, IN and Green Bay, WI. He loved helping his Abingdon High teammates coach youth basketball at Hedding Grade School.
Joe always loved kids, and had a good rapport with them from a very young age. During his senior year of high school, he served as a cadet teacher at the same elementary school he attended. As a firefighter, he often volunteered his weekends to participate in parks programs, which allowed kids to explore fire engines and spray water from fire hoses at targets. He is also remembered for including the younger kids in pick up games during the many hours he spent playing basketball at the Abingdon ballpark.
Joe was a member of the National Honor Society, inducted his junior year. In high school, he was honored by having several of his art pieces sent to national competitions in Washington, DC. He was a member of the Abingdon United Methodist Church.
After college, Joe worked for Racine County for many years. Since 2016, he had worked for SC Johnson Wax, Sturtevant, WI, where he was a Logistics Team/Operations Lead. After a few years, he joined the SC Johnson Emergency Response Brigade, and became a lieutenant. Like his Grandpa Ed and Uncle Ed, he had a passion for firefighting and rescue. He was a licensed firefighter, trained by his company, and attended intense summer firefighting trainings at Texas A&M University, in College Station, TX. He was licensed as an EMR, and had almost completed his EMT training and licensing. During rescue training, he climbed and rappelled wind turbines and factory structures several stories high, and was trained to rescue victims in water, ice and snow. He enjoyed the physically demanding aspects of his job, and worked daily to stay in top condition.
He was a wonderful father, and always the fun uncle, remembered for getting down on the floor to play and roughhouse with his nieces and nephews. He was his son Jarek’s biggest fan and supporter, always there to cheer him on in numerous sports throughout the years. Activities that Joe and Jarek enjoyed together were sledding, skateboarding, and diving into Lake Michigan from rocks on the shore. They spent countless hours together at North Beach in Racine, WI. Jarek also traveled with his dad on several DJ trips, and to concerts and events all over the country.
After moving to Wisconsin, Joe always lived in close proximity to Lake Michigan. For the last 24 years of his life, he was known for rising before dawn, and enjoying the sunrise over the lake. Though he watched the sun come up wherever he was, he had a special fondness for a sunrise over Lake Michigan from Grant Park.
For over two decades, Joe’s great love and talent was being a DJ, and producing music recordings in his studio. He was full of energy, though he rarely got more than a few hours of sleep at night, which served him well on the nights he played music until 2 a.m., tore down his equipment and loaded his trailer. He would often meet friends for breakfast on the way home, then sleep for a couple of hours before catching the sunrise that day.
He was devoted to his family, especially his son and two sisters. He had countless friends in the music scene, across the country and around the world. He regularly traveled to play parties in Miami, NYC, Cincinnati, and locations all over Wisconsin and Chicago.
Joe’s two most special friends were Derek Dudding and William G. Abraham. The Hanna Clan has lovingly “adopted” both of these men, claiming them as their own.
Derek was Joe’s close friend since elementary school. He was his best man, and Jarek’s partial namesake and godfather. Derek made long solo trips, almost every year, to help Joe celebrate his birthday. They shared a love of DJing and music. Joe and Derek were there for each other no matter the circumstance, and would have dropped everything if the other was in need, to lend a hand, or just to sit and listen. There were not many weeks that passed, even as adults, that they did not communicate in one way or another.
William was a loyal friend for over 20 years. He was a confidant, counselor, sounding board, and fellow music enthusiast. JC shared with his family that William was the smartest person he ever met. William was always present, and willing to assist JC with anything that required physical strength, like moving or loading trailers. He was the person who JC turned to first for advice or opinions. He has also gone above and beyond to assist JC’s family in countless ways. Many music friends have said that they never saw JC without William, or William without JC.
Joe will be remembered for many endearing qualities. He was smart, adventurous, fearless, loving, and fiercely loyal to his family and friends. He was there for them unconditionally, always listening and never judging. He gave his honest opinions, never sugar coating things, and wanted the best for those close to him. Most who knew Joe have stories about how he went out of his way for them in one way or another. We will remember him as a selfless human with his own one-of-a-kind style. His beautiful spirit and bright light will be missed by many on this Earth, always honored and never forgotten.
The daily sunrises at Grant Park have lost their greatest admirer, but there is no doubt he will be watching from Heaven.
A Celebration of Life will be August 9, 2025, at the Abingdon American Legion. An updated time will be announced at a later date.
