Lyle Hanner

Lyle Hanner, 68, of Laurens, Iowa, passed away on November 7, 2026, under hospice care at Pocahontas Community Hospital.

Born on March 4, 1958, in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa, to Robert Hanner and Beatrice Porter, Lyle attended Westwood Community School in Sloan, Iowa.

He was a hardworking man with an adventurous spirit, remarkable resilience, and a deep appreciation for the open road. He spent many years working as a heavy equipment operator for Peterson Contractors. Later in life, he lived out his dream of traveling across the country as the self-employed owner of Hanner Trucking, hauling campers across state lines through Wave Express.

In 2022, Lyle showed extraordinary strength as a cancer fighter, surviving Stage 4 bladder cancer and remaining cancer-free for several years. Throughout it all, he met life's challenges with quiet courage and continued to embrace every day to the fullest.

Lyle was widely known for his generous heart and willingness to lend a hand to friends whenever he could, never expecting anything in return. Whether someone needed a favor or had truck trouble, Lyle was always happy to share his knowledge and help fix the problem as best he could.

From an early age, Lyle loved sports, fondly remembering his days playing baseball in grade school and cheering on his favorite college football teams every fall. In his free time, he enjoyed the quiet focus of a good game of chess and the peace of the outdoors. Whether casting a fishing line or setting up camp, Lyle loved exploring new places, taking memorable camping trips to South Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma, and Indiana.

In 2020, Lyle met Manuel Zarzoso, who became a cherished part of his life. In 2021, Lyle moved to Laurens, where he quickly fell in love with the welcoming community and made many close friendships. He treasured his regular mornings grabbing coffee with friends in Cherokee, Pocahontas, and Laurens, the fellowship he found at the Lutheran church in Laurens, and sharing good company with his friends at the Laurens congregate meals.

Lyle is survived by Manuel Zarzoso; his loving sister, Bobbi Presnall; his daughters, Beth (Christophere) Greeley and Heather Hanner; his grandson, Braxtyn; and the many community friends who will miss his warmth, kindness, and stories from the road.

A Celebration of Life and burial at sea will be held aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise on December 1, 2026.