DeAnne Dunn Hanson

It's with great sadness, we announce the death of DeAnne Dunn Hanson on February 11, 2026, after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. We find comfort in knowing she is now at peace and can join her beloved Nick, mother, father, brother and other family among the stars.

DeAnne was born November 26, 1938, to Audrey Starr Dunn and George Patrick Dunn in Ogden, Utah. She graduated from East High School in 1956. She attended Westminster College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 1964. While attending Westminster, she met and married Stewart (Nick) Hanson Jr. They raised three lovely daughters in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Alongside Stewart, DeAnne was a dedicated community leader, serving on the University of Utah, Board of Trustees and Westminster College Woman's Board. She was a pioneer as the first female member and president of the Salt Lake Police Honorary Colonels. She was also a longtime supporter of the Odyssey House of Utah, an addiction treatment provider. During her 18-year involvement with Odyssey House, including four as board chair, she was instrumental in launching vital outpatient and family-centered programs.

DeAnne was an active member of the Utah Democratic Party. She volunteered for numerous campaigns and served as a legislative district chair and a delegate to the 1984 Democratic Convention.

She loved jazz and she and Stewart supported the Jazz SLC concert series for many years while living in Salt Lake City and even after they moved to St. George, Utah. After Stewart's passing, she continued to attend concerts with her daughters until it became too difficult for her to travel.

Her greatest love, however, was her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She spent many years enjoying time with her family during summers in Bear Lake and her final home in St. George, Utah. She had a wicked sense of humor, was a shrewd poker player, and loved being with her family.

DeAnne is preceded in death by her husband, Stewart; parents, Audrey and George Dunn; her brother, Kenneth Dunn; and sister-in-law, Rachelle Dunn. She is survived by her daughters, Gillian Papanikolas (Bill), Holly Roper (Brian), and Jennifer Wakefield; her seven grandchildren, Ari, Sean (Chelsea), and Elena (Lindsay) Papanikolas, Erin (Billal Javaid) and Mackenzie Roper, and Jack and Ben Wakefield; and her four great-grandchildren, Gavin, Mossimo, and Louisa Papanikolas, and Jamila Javaid.

Thank you to the staff and friends at Ovation Sienna Hills Assisted Living and Memory Care for loving and taking care of our dear DeAnne.

A private celebration of DeAnne's life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Alzheimer's Association or the Cure Alzheimer's Fund.