Robert Lee Hanna

Robert “Bob” Lee Hanna of Casper passed away peacefully at age 78 on May 13, 2025 at Garden Square Assisted Living after struggling with COPD and congestive heart failure for many years. Bob was born November 8, 1946 in Thermopolis, Wyoming to Jacob Hanna and Charlotte Bradley Hanna. He was welcomed home by older sister, Dixie Carolyn and later became big brother to Bradley Mark.

Bob was a rambunctious little boy growing up in Thermopolis. He loved playing with dinosaurs and being outdoors. He enjoyed spending time with his big sister, especially going to Sunday School and church with her each week. Even as a little boy Bob had a keen interest in national and world politics. He heard reports of the Korean War on the radio and would tell his Dad he wanted to take a bucket of water down to the train station to put out the “Cease Fire”!

The family moved to Rawlins and eventually to Casper where Bob attended Dean Morgan Junior High School and graduated from Natrona County High School in 1965. He spent his teenage summers on his Uncle Dick and Aunt Alice’s ranch near Colstrip, Montana. There he learned about hard work rounding up cattle and wrestling calves during branding but also had plenty of time to pal around with his cousin Joe. Bob wholeheartedly agreed with his Aunt Alice’s assessment that he “rode a horse like a sack of grain!”

Bob enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1966 and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He graduated from the Army Security Agency School (ASA) at Fort Devens, Massachusetts in March 1967. He was deployed to Sinop, Turkey on the coast of the Black Sea. This listening base was a vital component of the U.S. Army’s intelligence network during the Cold War with the primary purpose of monitoring the Soviet Union’s Black Sea fleet and missile test sites. Bob was then deployed to Kuma Station in Chitose, Japan. The strategic location of this ASA station allowed the monitoring of military and government signals from China, North Korea and the Soviet Union as well as other regional military adversaries. While in Japan, Bob was granted permission to fulfill a childhood dream and thus he purchased a 1969 Honda 350CC motorcycle. He proudly brought the motorcycle home after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in June 1972 and loved riding it around Casper and all over the State of Wyoming.

Bob battled chronic mental illness for most of his adult life. Despite his struggle Bob held a variety of interesting jobs. He worked as a BLM firefighter, a landman in Texas and as a mechanic at Pathfinder Mine and Kerr McGee Nuclear north of Glenrock. During this time Bob also earned two Associate’s Degrees from Casper College following three years at the University of Wyoming studying geology. Even during the darkest times he was still able to smile and love on his family. He channeled his own struggles with mental illness into supporting others through AA and the Wyoming Alliance for the Mentally Ill. He advocated for veteran’s health and was instrumental in the establishment of the DVA van service from Casper to the Sheridan VA Medical Center.

Bob found his greatest pleasure in spending time with his family (and calling them daily at all the right times) - discussing history with his brother, watching the Wyoming Cowboys and Denver Broncos with his brother-in-law, teaching his nephew and great niece the fine art of chess, outwitting us all playing trivia games and mastering the famous Potter family card games. He especially enjoyed supervising family meal preparations and loved the family pets. He was an avid reader and frequent contributor to the editorial pages of the Casper Star-Tribune. His dry wit and knowledge of world history and politics led to robust debates with the late Senator Alan Simpson, a man whom he greatly admired. Bob was a true patriot who believed in the “Republic” of the United States of America. He always had his worn copy of the U.S. Constitution close at hand.

Bob was a believer in Jesus Christ and drew on his faith to get through the tough times. It is this knowledge that brings his family great peace with his passing.

Bob was preceded in death by his dear parents, an infant sister and his beloved aunt and uncle, Alice and Dick Hanna.

Bob is survived by his sister and brother-in-law Dixie and David Potter of Polk City, Iowa; his brother Bradley Hanna of Casper, his nephew David (Vali) Potter, niece Hanna Potter, great nieces Emma (Caleb) O’Tool and Maggie Potter, great nephew Ben Potter, great, great nephew Henry O’Tool and several cousins. His family will miss his twinkling eyes, humorous take on current events and daily telephone calls.

Bob’s family sincerely thanks the compassionate staff of Garden Square Assisted Living and Central Wyoming Hospice for the care and support Bob received in his final year as well as his long-time devoted social worker Jamie Hill and his life-long and loyal friend, Terry Wingerter.

A memorial service with military honors will be held for Bob at 10:30 am on Thursday, July 3, 2025 at the Oregon Trail State Veterans Cemetery Chapel with interment to follow.

A special thank you to Holly Rumsey at Newcomers Funeral Home.

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