Jonathan Hanchett

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Jonathan Gavin Hanchett, 69, of Shawano, passed away surrounded by family from complications due to heart surgery on Sunday, Jan. 12, in Madison.

Born in Elgin, Illinois, to nationwide celebrations on July 4, 1950, he is the son of Walter and Carolyn Hanchett and the seventh of eight children.

He married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie (Phelps), in 1969 and has seven children and 10 grandchildren, who were the delight of his life.

Jon was a star pitcher in college (Judson 1973) and graduated with a BA in human relations and became a licensed social worker. Later, he received a masters of science in education from UW-Oshkosh, majoring in sociology and minoring in psychology.

From 1979 until his retirement in 2016, he worked in the field of social work on the Menominee Reservation and in Shawano and Oconto counties. His work gave him the opportunity to engage in many different areas, including child protective services, youth at risk and mental health case management.

Jon and Stephanie also were licensed foster parents for 17 years and, over the course of that time, cared for 34 teenage boys.

Known by many as “Coach,” he was involved in all ages of various sports, including Little League baseball, basketball and soccer. He was an avid Chicago Bears fan and remained an ambassador for the team, desperately trying to reach the people of northeastern Wisconsin.

He was devoted to his family and friends and was gifted with the ability to talk with, encourage and show interest in the lives of anyone he met.

In 2018, he became a facilitator for Fresh Hope in Shawano. He had a passion for the ministry of Fresh Hope and the people who attend the Fresh Hope support group at Hope Community Church every Monday night.

He is survived by his wife, Stephanie, of Shawano; his children, Jonathan (Sarah), of Quincy, Illinois, Joseph, of Bristol, England, Benjamin, of Chicago, Illinois, Sarah, of Shawano, William, of Shawano, and Robert Powless, of Shawano; his grandchildren, Evalina, Sonia, Gabriella, Ezra and Simeon, all of Quincy, Illinois, Noah, of Bristol, England, Isaac, Bethany, Mara and Ganawabhi, all of Shawano; and his siblings, Tom (Joyce) Hanchett, Dave (Ellie) Hanchett, Sally (Peter) Gutierrez, Mark (Anne) Hanchett and Samuel (Nina) Hanchett. He is further survived by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Carolyn; son, Calvin; brother, James; and sister, Elizabeth.

A funeral service for Jon was held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at Hope Community Church in Shawano with the Rev. John Anderson officiating. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation was held from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, at Swedberg Funeral Home in Shawano and again Friday at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service.

www.swedbergfuneralhome.com

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