Richard Edward Hansen's Obituary
Richard E. Hansen, 105, passed away on Monday, June 4, 2018, at Lakeshore Manor.
Richard was born on September 5, 1912, in Racine, to the late Jacob F. and Marien (nee Fuglsang) Hansen. Dick was united in marriage to Alice Marie Hutchens on June 21, 1941. They were married for 69 years. She preceded him in death on April 30, 2010.
Dick was a faithful member of Calvary Memorial Church and active in many of its ministries. He was a tool and die maker, beginning his career in 1928 as an apprentice at the J. I. Case Company. Fifty-four years later, at the age of 70, he retired from American Motors. He had also been employed at Massey-Harris-Ferguson and John Oster Manufacturing. Between 1939 and 1945, Dick was employed by the War Department as a senior armament machinist at the Rock Island (IL) Arsenal and the Hawaiian Ordnance Department. He and his wife were in Honolulu at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Dick grew roses for many years, was an avid photographer before the advent of digital cameras, and collected bolo ties. He enjoyed traveling, beginning in 1939 with a trip by motorcycle from Racine to Acapulco, Mexico, long before the Pan-American Highway was completed. He recalled having to ford rivers at times in order to complete his journey. With his wife, he visited all of the available birthplaces, libraries, and burial sites of the presidents up to and including Ronald Reagan. Dick visited Denmark, the birthplace of his parents, several times. Until his eyesight failed, he spent time every day reading his Bible in Danish, his first spoken language.
Dick is survived by four children: Randol (Linda)Hansen of Racine, Anita Comfort of Cumberland, MD, Elaine Hansen of The Villages, FL, and Carolyn Hansen (Ross Arnold) of Ajijic, Mexico; grandchildren: Karin (Becky Watts) Hansen of Springfield, OR, Richard (TracyAnn) Hansen of Schwenksville, PA, Paul (Signe) Comfort of Chagrin, Falls, OH, and Rebecca (Chad) Bederka of Sykesville, MD; great-grandchildren: Troy Harman, James Harman, Joshua (Kelsey) Harman, Corey Harman, Anna Hansen, Peter Hansen, Gabby Comfort, Pierce Comfort, Dean Comfort, and Mili Comfort; and great-great-grandchildren: Ezekeyl and Samuel Harman.
Dick was also preceded in death by two sisters, Rose Daley and Ethel Stougaard; daughter-in-law, Sharon (Johnson) Hansen; and sons-in-law, Ronnie Douglas and Ted Comfort.
Richard’s family will receive friends at the Wilson Funeral Home on Saturday, June 9, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. A funeral service will be conducted at the Wilson Funeral Home starting at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Nathan James officiating. Interment will be held at Graceland Cemetery. Memorials to Calvary Memorial Church have been suggested. Online condolences may be made at www.wilsonfuneralhomeinc.com.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Comfort Keepers who blessed Dick with daily visits and provided him with laughter, companionship and genuine friendship in the last years of his life.
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