Debra Singer-Hanson

Debra Singer-Hanson, 68, of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away April 29, 2022, in Austin, Texas. She died of a very rare cancer called chondrosarcoma. Debra was the beloved wife of Charles “Chuck” W. Hanson, also of Kansas City. They spent the past 24 years together and married in Cortona, Italy, on April 22, 2006. Deb always shared that their life together was a treasure. Debra was the third of five children of Edward and Faye Singer, of Shawano. She graduated from Shawano High as the top female student in her class. She graduated summa cum Iaude from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, twice, with both an undergraduate degree in journalism and a graduate degree in counseling psychology/counselor education. In her young adult life, Debra worked in banking and brokerage services. She became a top trader for the stock market industry and obtained her Series 7 and Series 63 licenses. Later, after pursuing a master’s degree, she became a licensed psychotherapist and worked for GHC in Madison. In 1997, she moved to Dallas, Texas to be close to her brother, Brian; sister, Mary; mother, Faye; and nephew, Jackson. While in Texas, Debra began building a career as a certified employee assistance manager, first for Humana, and then for BNSF Railway, an occupation she loved. She trained, consulted, case managed, counseled, and organized and managed peer responders. She also maintained a couple’s therapy with a special mission to serve Wyandotte County in Kansas. She felt a deep calling to help others on a path of personal growth. She retired from her practice at 66. Debra was curious about the world and never stopped learning. She was especially interested in spiritual growth and neuropsychology. She loved her family, her grandchildren, reading, singing, cooking, dance, art, writing and speaking French. She was a pet lover. She also was well travelled and often went on extended vacations to foreign cities. Her favorite places were France and Santorini Island in Greece. Debra ws preceded in death by her two brothers, Alan (1969) and Brian (2019); and her father, Edward W. Singer (1990). She is survived by her beloved spouse, Chuck Hanson; her mother, Faye Singer; her sister, Mary Singer (spouse, Jim Rubalcaba and nephew, Jackson Singer); her brother, Jon Singer (niece, Abby Singer; nephews Jacob Singer and Nicholas Singer), half-sister, Judith Dankmeyer; and half-brother, Wayne Singer. She is also survived by her stepchildren, Renee Hanson Malone (Michael Malone) and Joshua Hanson (Shallyn Hanson). Debra has requested to be cremated and, in lieu of flowers or cards, please donate to Gilda’s Club in Kansas City, Missouri, https://givebutter.com/gildas-club-kansas-city.