Erik Robert Hanson

Erik Robert Hanson, 26, passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2018.

Erik was born on November 1, 1991 in Brainerd, Minnesota during the midst of one of the worst blizzards ever recorded in central Minnesota. Since his parents were told they would never be able to conceive, Erik was known as the miracle baby. He enjoyed his first four years in a veritable wonderland of woods, lakes and lots of space to explore.

The family moved to Lakeville, Minnesota the spring before he began kindergarten and Erik progressed through first grade before the family packed up again and moved to O’Fallon, Illinois. He tried his luck at baseball and football, but eventually found his niche in swimming at the age of 8. The first year he swam, he received an award for the most improved swimmer. Erik’s passion for swimming grew as he progressed in the classroom and the pool throughout his two year stint in central Illinois before moving to Warner Robins, Georgia in 2002.

Erik made an early and strong commitment to Jesus Christ in grade school. He was active in youth services, a missions trip to Nicaragua, and he volunteered in the children’ ministries. His rapport with children was exemplary and noteworthy.

Erik immediately joined the Warner Robins Aquanauts and he was off to the races, literally. He quickly established his prowess with the butterfly stroke and even began dreaming of one day making Olympic Trials. He swam for the Warner Robins High School swim team lettering all four years of high school and was named the most valuable male swimmer on the team.

Besides swimming and church activities, Erik loved video games, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dragon Ball Z and spending time with friends.

Following graduation from high school in 2010, Erik received a swimming and academic scholarship to Towson University, a division one university near Baltimore, Maryland. Swimming is a particularly grueling sport and Erik knew that eventually his love for it might fade, and sure enough, during the winter of 2011, he left the team, finished the academic year at Towson and returned to Georgia.

He continued his academic pursuits at Middle Georgia State University studying English and Literature. He hoped to become a high school English teacher and swimming coach. Erik was truly gifted when it came to mentoring and teaching younger swimmers and he could always quickly establish a bond with young children. It was, perhaps, his own child-like imagination that enabled his rapport with children.

Erik was affable, friendly and supremely polite. His smile could light up the room and he definitely had charisma. His charisma manifested itself profoundly when he began working jobs in the restaurant industry waiting tables.

Erik experienced several traumatic events during his late teens and twenties. As the challenges of life became more and more difficult, Erik delved deeper and deeper into the insidious use of illicit drugs to assuage his inner turmoil. That great kid and young man whom we all knew and loved slowly lost control of good decision-making.

Erik lost his battle with drugs and life leaving us deeply grieved and saddened. He has shed his earthly body and his troubles and we rest assured that he has joined his mother and grandparents in heaven.

He is survived by his father, Ken Hanson, stepmother Etta Hanson, brother, Luke Hanson, sister-in-law Rachael Hanson, daughter, Aurora Rose, sister Brittani and her husband Clayton, brother, Caleb and Hannah Hinesley, sisters, Sidni Wafler and Heidi Hinesley, plus many other life-long friends and family.

A memorial service celebrating Erik’s life will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Christ Chapel Warner Robins.

McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with Mr. Hanson’s arrangements.