The Rev. Carl Hanser, 71, of Glen Carbon, Ill., formerly of Jackson, died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, at Edgewood Manor Hospice in Westerville, Ohio.

He was born Jan. 13, 1934, in Edwardsville, Ill., son of Harry and Bernadine Huntman Hanser. He and Grace Thowe were married Nov. 7, 1959, in Alma, Kan.

Hanser was a 1951 graduate of Edwardsville High School, 1955 graduate of Millikin University in Decatur, Ill., and 1959 and 1974 graduate of Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis.

He served as minister of United Church of Christ Churches in Arthur, Ill., Wentzville, Mo., Evansville, Ind., Gomer, Ohio, Wabash, Ind., and at Emanuel United Church of Christ in Jackson from 1974 to 1987. He retired in 1998.

Hanser was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Edwardsville, Rotary Club in Jackson, Kiwanis in Wabash, and Interdenominational Ministerial Alliances in several communities.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Kirk Hanser of St. Louis, Kyle Hanser of Columbus, Ohio, Kent Hanser of Traer, Iowa; two sisters, Norma Klingenberg of New Athens, Ill., Dorothy Klueter of Edwardsville; and seven grandchildren.

Friends may call at Weber Funeral Home in Edwardsville from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul United Church of Christ. Diane Grohmann will officiate. Burial will be in Valley View Cemetery in Edwardsville.