Obituary for Bill and Joanne Hann
Funeral services for William R. “Bill” Hann and Joanne K. Hann will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, October 15, 2022, at Lake Athens Baptist Church with Pastor Eric Hann officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.
William R. “Bill” Hann was born in Bessie, Oklahoma on October 29, 1935, to Louie and Erma Hann. At the age of 9 he moved with his family (including his brother Carl) to live in Oakland, California. Bill had a reputation as a drag racer in the Bay Area in the 1950s – even winning a number of trophies, until he surrendered his life to full-time Gospel ministry. He met Joanne DeWatney at California Baptist University, Riverside Ca. and they were married in 1961. Two children were born into their family (Andrew ’62, and Eric ’66), and they also adopted their beloved daughter Dorothy (“Dottie”) in 1971. Bill earned both a bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies from Cal Baptist University as well as a Master of Divinity degree from Cal Grad Theological Seminary. Bill was a revered Senior Pastor of several churches in California, including in Baldwin Park, Bakersfield, Walnut Creek, Long Beach, and finally at Mid-Cities Baptist Church in Westminster - where he served for roughly 25 years before retiring. He also served in various capacities as a leader in the Southern Baptist denomination, including President of the California Baptist Convention, President of the California Baptist Pastor’s Conference, Trustee of California Baptist University, and Trustee of Southern Seminary in Louisville KY. Bill was well-respected by his peers as a Bible scholar, theologian, historian, apologist, and a champion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His annual “Criswell Bible Conference” hosted in Westminster featured top tier guest scholars/theologians such as Richard Land and Donald Whitney. His preaching was influential to a generation of younger pastors in California not only for its studied, insightful content, but also for its uniquely poignant and illustrative impact.
Bill retired with his wife Joanne in Athens, Texas where he spent the last years of his life close to daughter Dottie and her family – while still regularly teaching Sunday School in church and preaching on occasion. He will be sorely missed by his family as a husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather (of 10 grandkids), and great-grandfather.
His favorite Bible verses include: 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (NKJV)
Joanne K. Hann was born in Alhambra, California on August 16, 1942, to Julian and Dorothy DeWatney. Joanne grew up in Southern California and became a follower of Jesus at a young age at a church in Baldwin Park. She always had a knack for English and loved literature, so after graduating from Baldwin Park High School she attended California Baptist University in Riverside, Ca. to pursue a liberal arts degree. It was at Cal Baptist that she met Bill Hann, and they were wed after dating for just six months. Bill was at CBU pursuing a Christian studies degree in order to become a pastor, and he began serving as a pastor while still in process of finishing his education - commuting to school. During that time period, they had 2 children (Andy ‘62, and Eric ‘66). Joanne actually walked in the CBU graduation ceremony while 6 months pregnant with Eric. She went on to earn both her teaching credential and Master’s Degree in Education. While serving as a team in ministry, they went on to adopt their beloved daughter Dorothy (“Dottie”) in 1971. Joanne taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and supported Bill in countless other ways in various California church fields including: Trona, Baldwin Park, Bakersfield, Walnut Creek, Long Beach, and finally at Mid-Cities Baptist Church in Westminster - where they served together for roughly 25 years before retiring.
Joanne was also a long-time, respected schoolteacher at various locales including Pumpkin Center (Bakersfield Ca where she taught special Ed), in Long Beach (where she served as the principal of a small, Christian school), as well as at Baldwin Park High School - to which she commuted daily from Orange County to teach at the school where she once graduated. At BPHS she eventually became the head of the entire English department. Joanne was especially known by her students for her tough love, and was greatly admired for challenging her A.P. classes in their future accomplishments - being almost like an adopted mom to young people who came from very broken families.
Joanne (at the time of Bill’s retirement) moved to Athens, Texas where they spent the last years of their lives close to daughter Dottie and her family – while she was still active in the life of a local church and even taught school. Joanne will be sorely missed by her family as a sister, mother, aunt, grandmother (of 10 grandkids), and great-grandmother. In God’s providence, Joanne entered Heaven just days after Bill, not even being mentally aware that he had gone before her and that he was already there waiting for her for their sweet reunion.
Bill and Joanne were preceded in death by their parents and son-in-law Jim Crye.
Bill and Joanne are survived by their three children, Dottie Crye of Athens, Texas, Andy Hann and wife Candace of Edgewater, New Jersey, Eric Hann and wife Cindy of Bakersfield, California; Bill’s brother Carl Hann and wife Nancy of Burleson, Texas; Joanne’s sister Nancy and Carl Hann of Burleson, Texas; 10 grandchildren, Aaron Hann and wife Natalie, Drew Hann and wife Laura, Meg Smiley and husband Justin, Isaac Hann and wife Samantha, Matt Crye and wife Michelle, Mark Crye and wife Jessica, Julie Estes, Lara Crye, Stacia Crye, Claudia Crye and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Family.
William R. “Bill” Hann was born in Bessie, Oklahoma on October 29, 1935, to Louie and Erma Hann. At the age of 9 he moved with his family (including his brother Carl) to live in Oakland, California. Bill had a reputation as a drag racer in the Bay Area in the 1950s – even winning a number of trophies, until he surrendered his life to full-time Gospel ministry. He met Joanne DeWatney at California Baptist University, Riverside Ca. and they were married in 1961. Two children were born into their family (Andrew ’62, and Eric ’66), and they also adopted their beloved daughter Dorothy (“Dottie”) in 1971. Bill earned both a bachelor’s degree in Christian Studies from Cal Baptist University as well as a Master of Divinity degree from Cal Grad Theological Seminary. Bill was a revered Senior Pastor of several churches in California, including in Baldwin Park, Bakersfield, Walnut Creek, Long Beach, and finally at Mid-Cities Baptist Church in Westminster - where he served for roughly 25 years before retiring. He also served in various capacities as a leader in the Southern Baptist denomination, including President of the California Baptist Convention, President of the California Baptist Pastor’s Conference, Trustee of California Baptist University, and Trustee of Southern Seminary in Louisville KY. Bill was well-respected by his peers as a Bible scholar, theologian, historian, apologist, and a champion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His annual “Criswell Bible Conference” hosted in Westminster featured top tier guest scholars/theologians such as Richard Land and Donald Whitney. His preaching was influential to a generation of younger pastors in California not only for its studied, insightful content, but also for its uniquely poignant and illustrative impact.
Bill retired with his wife Joanne in Athens, Texas where he spent the last years of his life close to daughter Dottie and her family – while still regularly teaching Sunday School in church and preaching on occasion. He will be sorely missed by his family as a husband, brother, father, uncle, grandfather (of 10 grandkids), and great-grandfather.
His favorite Bible verses include: 2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (NKJV)
Joanne K. Hann was born in Alhambra, California on August 16, 1942, to Julian and Dorothy DeWatney. Joanne grew up in Southern California and became a follower of Jesus at a young age at a church in Baldwin Park. She always had a knack for English and loved literature, so after graduating from Baldwin Park High School she attended California Baptist University in Riverside, Ca. to pursue a liberal arts degree. It was at Cal Baptist that she met Bill Hann, and they were wed after dating for just six months. Bill was at CBU pursuing a Christian studies degree in order to become a pastor, and he began serving as a pastor while still in process of finishing his education - commuting to school. During that time period, they had 2 children (Andy ‘62, and Eric ‘66). Joanne actually walked in the CBU graduation ceremony while 6 months pregnant with Eric. She went on to earn both her teaching credential and Master’s Degree in Education. While serving as a team in ministry, they went on to adopt their beloved daughter Dorothy (“Dottie”) in 1971. Joanne taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and supported Bill in countless other ways in various California church fields including: Trona, Baldwin Park, Bakersfield, Walnut Creek, Long Beach, and finally at Mid-Cities Baptist Church in Westminster - where they served together for roughly 25 years before retiring.
Joanne was also a long-time, respected schoolteacher at various locales including Pumpkin Center (Bakersfield Ca where she taught special Ed), in Long Beach (where she served as the principal of a small, Christian school), as well as at Baldwin Park High School - to which she commuted daily from Orange County to teach at the school where she once graduated. At BPHS she eventually became the head of the entire English department. Joanne was especially known by her students for her tough love, and was greatly admired for challenging her A.P. classes in their future accomplishments - being almost like an adopted mom to young people who came from very broken families.
Joanne (at the time of Bill’s retirement) moved to Athens, Texas where they spent the last years of their lives close to daughter Dottie and her family – while she was still active in the life of a local church and even taught school. Joanne will be sorely missed by her family as a sister, mother, aunt, grandmother (of 10 grandkids), and great-grandmother. In God’s providence, Joanne entered Heaven just days after Bill, not even being mentally aware that he had gone before her and that he was already there waiting for her for their sweet reunion.
Bill and Joanne were preceded in death by their parents and son-in-law Jim Crye.
Bill and Joanne are survived by their three children, Dottie Crye of Athens, Texas, Andy Hann and wife Candace of Edgewater, New Jersey, Eric Hann and wife Cindy of Bakersfield, California; Bill’s brother Carl Hann and wife Nancy of Burleson, Texas; Joanne’s sister Nancy and Carl Hann of Burleson, Texas; 10 grandchildren, Aaron Hann and wife Natalie, Drew Hann and wife Laura, Meg Smiley and husband Justin, Isaac Hann and wife Samantha, Matt Crye and wife Michelle, Mark Crye and wife Jessica, Julie Estes, Lara Crye, Stacia Crye, Claudia Crye and 15 great-grandchildren.
Services were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Family.