Justin Dore Hannen

Justin Dore Hannen passed away in Denver, Colorado, on June 16, 2016, age 101. He was born February 5, 1915, in Burlington, Kansas, to Louis Henry Hannen and Agnes Dore Hannen. Justin was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1936, and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1938. After graduation, he returned to Burlington to begin practicing law and was elected to the office of Coffey County Attorney. At the same time, he began dating Dorothy Nadine Schneider, the daughter of a prosperous local farmer and oilman. Dorothy was a high school teacher, having graduated from Emporia State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas. Everything changed for Justin when the United States was attacked at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. The following day, he drove to Kansas City and enlisted in the United States Navy. He enrolled in the officer training program and was trained as a pilot. After completing training, he volunteered for the lighter than air division, which flew dirigibles along the west and east coasts of the United States looking for enemy war ships and submarines. While in the Navy, Justin was stationed in New Jersey, North Carolina, and California. During the war, Justin and Dorothy decided to marry. Dorothy traveled to North Carolina, where Justin was then stationed, and they were married on January 12, 1943. Toward the end of the war, when Justin was stationed in Orange County, California, Justin and Dorothy had their first child, Justin Mark. When the war ended, Justin and Dorothy decided to live in Denver, Colorado, where Justin had been offered a law partnership by a friend of his father, Charles J. Munz, a distinguished Denver attorney. The law firm of Munz and Hannen prospered. Justin's practice emphasized real estate law, estate planning, and probate, although he was also an excellent courtroom lawyer and public speaker. He was well-liked and respected by both attorneys and judges. Justin joined the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal service organization. He held the position of Grand Knight of Council 539, and was subsequently State Deputy for the State of Colorado. In that position, he traveled around the state speaking to local councils. Justin was a devout Catholic throughout his life. He was a member of Christ the King parish for many years, and in his later years he attended Mass at Mother of God parish. Justin and Dorothy had two additional children, a girl, Linda Maureen, and a boy, Thomas John. Mark graduated from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Denver College of Law. He was a partner in an Arapahoe County law firm for 18 years and then Douglas County Attorney for 13 years until he was appointed to the Office of District Court Judge in 2002. Mark retired from that position in June 2015. Justin's daughter, Linda, is a graduate of the University of Colorado, has a Master's Degree in Education from Regis University, and taught elementary school students for 32 years. She is now a licensed real estate broker. Linda is married to James E. Cooper and has three children. Justin James is a supervisor for a local home builder. He is married to Ellie and they have one child, Maggie, four months. Garrett Michael is an electrical engineer with a degree from Colorado State University and owns Redstone Car Service. Daniel Thomas is a professional musician. Justin's son, Thomas, is a graduate of Arizona State University and has a Master's Degree in Business, with an emphasis in real estate from the University of Denver. Upon graduation, Thomas was a market consultant for 10 years and a home builder working in Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. For the past 23 years, he has owned two successful real estate offices emphasizing in real estate brokerage and investment property management. Thomas is married to Colleen, a licensed real estate broker, and they have two daughters. Maureen has a business degree from Creighton University and worked as a project manager for Peter Kiewit Construction Company until the fall of 2014, when she enrolled in law school at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas. Maureen married Christian Cook, a banker, in May 2015. Thomas's other daughter, Megan, is a graduate of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado, and is employed as an account manager with the Nestle food company. Tragically, Dorothy contracted cancer and passed away in 1974 at age 56. Fortunately, Justin subsequently met Ruth Sanders Roberts, a member of a distinguished Virginia family, who was the manager of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Justin and Ruth married on January 2, 1982, and they have shared a wonderful life with their family and friends. It can be said without exaggeration that Justin led an exemplary life. He exemplified intelligence, good habits, trustworthiness, a sense of humor, and generosity. He set an example for his family, friends, and professional colleagues of how to lead a good life. All who have known him have been blessed. A vigil will be held between 6 and 8 p.m. on Tuesday June 21, 2016, with the Recitation of the Rosary beginning at 7 p.m. at Horan & McConaty, 1091 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 22, 2016, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 830 Elm Street, Denver, CO. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 12801 W. 44th Ave., Wheat Ridge, CO. The family will host a reception at the Lakewood Country Club at 1:00 p.m. following the interment. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Colorado Knights of Columbus Charities Fund, P.O. Box 810, Littleton, Colorado 80160. Please share memories of Justin and condolences with his family in the Guestbook.