Richard Hansler

Richard “Dick” Hansler of Pepper Pike, Age 100, passed away on January 21, 2025. Loving husband of 75 years to Wanda Hansler (nee Hegner). Cherished father of Jim (Jan), Mark (Liz), Stephen (Sue), and Susan Thomsen (Mark). Devoted grandfather of 10 and great grandfather of 5. He is pre-deceased by his parents, sister Elsie Trapp of St. Paul and brother George Hansler of New York City.

Dick was born in St. Paul on August 21, 1924 to the Rev. George Hansler and Dorothy Hansler (nee Schultheis). From a young age, Dick enjoyed many hobbies and adventures. He did photography and model building and at age 15, he and his brother rode their bicycles from Milwaukee to St. Paul, a distance of over 300 miles! Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps to support the WWII war effort. By age 19, he was a 2nd lieutenant navigator on a B17 bomber and flew 25 missions out of a base in Italy from July-September 1944. On the 25th mission, he and the rest of the crew parachuted from their plane after it received severe damage from anti-aircraft fire. Half of the crew was captured after landing but Dick and 4 others eluded capture with the help of the local resistance. He spent 7 months on the ground, mostly in Poland, helping the Polish resistance. In April 1945, he and others were finally able to rejoin the allies as the Eastern front passed through the area where they had been hiding. Dick wrote of his war experience in the self-published book on Amazon called “Prepare to Bail Out”.

After the war, Dick began college at Capital University in Columbus where he met the love of his life, Wanda Hegner. She admired him in uniform though Dick always claimed he had no other clothes to wear. They married on August 20, 1949 and happily celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary last August at their home with many family members and friends. After starting his studies at Capital, Dick went on to complete his degree in physics at the University of Chicago and then earned a Ph.D. in physics from Ohio State. Dick and Wanda moved to Cleveland in 1952 and he began his career at Nela Park as a research physicist with GE Lighting. When he retired from GE after 43 years, Dick had his name on over 100 patents. He was responsible for innovations in lighting for airport runways, vehicles, public spaces, homes and devices of all kinds. After GE, Dick established and ran the Lighting Innovations Institute at John Carroll University. He also wrote 10 books and founded a company called Low Blue Lights focusing on the effects of melatonin and blue light on health and sleep. A neighbor would always tell Dick’s children “He’s one smart cookie!”

Dick was devoted to many social causes and helped found both Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry and Community Housing Solutions in Cleveland. Dick often spoke of the Reverend Richard Sering, a leader in founding LMM, as a profound influence on his own commitment to public service and causes of social justice. Dick also had the opportunity on two occasions to see Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak in Cleveland.

Beyond his career and social causes, Dick was most of all devoted to his family. He was an incredible role model, teaching his children the importance of racial and economic equality, justice for all and speaking out against repression. He was always there for the small stuff too, patiently fixing a bike or a window broken by a bad throw, and endlessly building things for his kids, and later his grandkids, to enjoy: toys, a swing set, a tree house, a playhouse, a swimming pool (mostly by himself) and a kid-sized electric car, just to name a few! His sense of adventure was evident as he and Wanda took the kids on many trips around the US. As a couple, he and Wanda traveled the world, making it to 5 of the 7 continents. Apart from his love, dedication and interest in his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Dick loved the many pets he and Wanda cared for together: dogs, cats, sheep, goats, rabbits and various wild animals healing in one part of the house or another.

At his 100th birthday party last August, Dick said “I’ve always been very lucky.” We were the lucky ones to have him in the world for over 100 years.

A celebration of Dick’s life will take place on February 8 at the Church of the Western Reserve, 30500 Fairmount Blvd., Pepper Pike, OH with visitation at 10 am and memorial service at 11 am. A luncheon at the church will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lutheran Metro Ministry, www.lutheranmetro.org

ARRANGEENTS BY FIORITTO FUNERAL SERVICE OF NORTHEAST OHIO www.FiorittoFS.com