Joshua Hanson

Joshua Allen Hanson, 47, of Robinson, IL, passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in his sleep on April 10, 2026, in the comfort of his home, leaving behind a family who loved him beyond measure.

Josh was born on September 30, 1978, in Honolulu, HI, the son of Roger Allen Hanson and Cindy Hanson, while his dad was stationed on the island. From the very beginning, his road was not an easy one. Muscular dystrophy shaped his childhood in ways most people will never understand, and he endured more surgeries and more hard days than any little boy should. And yet, through all of it, he never lost his joy. That didn't mean his brothers got off easy, of course. As the oldest, he was everybody's big brother, and he didn't let them forget it. He couldn't really talk, but if you were stepping out of line, you knew the minute he was trying to put you back in your place.

That same determination carried him through Robinson High School, where he became the only one of his siblings to earn a diploma, a fact his family still beams about. For a while afterward, he held a job through Lawrence Crawford, though much of his life was lived from home as his muscular dystrophy progressed. His family made sure of one thing: Josh was never babied. He was allowed to be his age, to tease and laugh and live right alongside everyone else, and that is exactly what he did.

And oh, how he lived. Josh was one of a kind. He was the life of the party and such a happy camper. He never forgot a face, and you were truly blessed if you got to know him. He had a great sense of humor and a smile that could light up a room, and he would sing and dance at the drop of a hat. He danced with his nieces, threw the ball with his nephews, and held out his hand with a grinning "Dolla, dolla, dolla?" whenever he thought somebody owed him a dollar bill. He loved Batman, but to the people who knew him best, he was their Superman.

Music was the soundtrack of his days, and he loved all of it: country, classic rock, hip hop, anything with a beat, always ready to bust a move. Food was not far behind. Josh loved to eat, and if you put it in front of him, he'd clean the plate. Cheeseburgers, hot dogs, cakes, and ice cream above all else. In the summer, he was always ready for cookouts, and wherever his family gathered was exactly where he wanted to be. They fished together, camped together, and swam together. He loved watching Dr. Phil, and he loved his mom's cooking so much that, by golly, he knew the second somebody tried to pass off a meal she hadn't made herself.

He and Cindy were two peas in a pod, joined at the hip. Every morning began the same beautiful way, with Josh ready to greet her with a smile and a "Hi." That bond was the heartbeat of his whole life.

While our hearts are shattered, we take solace in knowing Josh has been welcomed into heaven by his loving father, Roger Allen Hanson. We imagine them finally fishing together again, free from pain and sorrow, the way a son and his dad were always meant to be.

Josh leaves behind his mom, Cindy Hanson; his siblings, Jeremiah & Angie Hanson, John & Jacob Milam, Constance Hanson, Lenny Hanson and his partner, Brittany, and James & Missy Hanson; along with several nieces and nephews who adored their uncle.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 16th, at the Goodwine Funeral Home in Robinson, with Celebrant Curt Goodwine officiating. During the service, family and friends will be given the opportunity to speak about the life of this one-of-a-kind soul. Burial will follow in the Robinson New Cemetery. Memorials may be made to his memorial fund, with checks made payable to Goodwine Funeral Homes, or online at https://www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/payments.