FOREST CITY — Jon Daryl Hanna, 62, passed away August 6, 2026, with his family by his side in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A memorial service in Forest City will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 10, at Schott Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark St. Inurnment will follow at Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City. An earlier memorial service was held September 19 at Second Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque.
Jon was born February 21, 1964, in Forest City to Eugene and Carolyn Hanna, beginning a life that would ultimately stretch from Northern Iowa to New Mexico while remaining centered around family, friendship, work, sports and helping others.
Sports were an especially important part of Jon’s story.
He became involved with Special Olympics while still a middle school student in Iowa and continued competing for more than 45 years. Long after those first competitions, Jon was still an active athlete.
In New Mexico, he competed in softball, basketball, volleyball, poly hockey and track and field, making Special Olympics not merely an activity but a defining part of his life for more than four decades.
Jon spent the final 15 years of his life living in Albuquerque.
During those same years, he built a long record of dedicated employment with Adelante, working as a custodian at Albuquerque Police Department headquarters.
His strong work ethic and outgoing personality helped Jon form friendships with Adelante job coaches and administrators as well as police officers and other employees at APD.
Jon’s calendar was rarely empty.
He enjoyed two-stepping at Merrymakers dances, where he could be found tipping his hat and enjoying the music and company around him.
Bingo was another favorite.
Jon became known for calling the games, a tradition that meant enough to those around him that it continued after his death under the fitting name “Cowboy Jon’s Bingo-rama.”
Family time was equally important.
Jon enjoyed playing games with his sister Vicky, niece Stacey and great-niece Austyn. He also shared church services, social gatherings and many everyday moments with Yvette, whom his family described as the love of his life, along with the Gallegos family.
His friendships also held a special place in his life, particularly his relationships with Mike and Cecil McKernan.
Those who knew Jon remembered someone quick to smile and ready to help.
That spirit extended beyond family and friends. Jon volunteered his time at Roadrunner Food Bank, helping sort and stock food for people in need.
Even after his death, Jon found another way to help others.
His family honored his final wish to become an organ donor, allowing the gift of life to be shared with people in need.
Jon is survived by his parents, Eugene and Carolyn Hanna of Forest City; sister Vicky Dalby of Albuquerque; brother Tim and his wife, Shelly, of Swisher; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and Yvette and her family, Yvonne, Tiffany and Michael Gallegos of Albuquerque.
He was preceded in death by his niece, Kaitlyn.
Those wishing to read the family’s complete remembrance or leave a message may visit the official obituary for Jon Daryl Hanna through Schott Funeral Homes.
In lieu of flowers, the family has suggested memorials to Special Olympics New Mexico, designated for the Westside Wonders, the Dukes or Rio Rancho Rockets.
Jon’s life will be remembered through more than 45 years of Special Olympics competition, 15 years of dedicated work in Albuquerque, countless dances and bingo games, volunteer hours helping feed others and the friendships he formed wherever he went. From Forest City to Albuquerque, he built a life filled with activity, generosity and a smile that those around him will remember.
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