Gordon Allen Hansen

Gordon Allen Hansen, age 80, of Minier, Illinois, formerly of Kimball, Nebraska, and Winterset, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, April 30. Gordon was born on January 30, 1946, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Edmund C. and June (Tesdahl) Hansen.

Gordon graduated from Kimball County High School in Kimball, Nebraska, after attending Winterset, Iowa public schools until his junior year. He went on to attend Kearney State College and later the University of Nebraska, where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. Before completing his degree, Gordon enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam era, where he learned computer repair and programming skills. He went on to build a long and accomplished career as a self-described “byte fiddler,” working first with computer-aided design software and later writing programs for the Administrative Services Department at State Farm Insurance. After retirement, Gordon worked as a bus driver for the Olympia School District, He especially enjoyed watching the volleyball, softball, and football teams.

In 1989, he married Carolyn Seymour Hansen. Throughout their marriage, they loved traveling to college football and bowl games. Their marriage successfully survived numerous football games between the Huskers and Buckeyes. They cheered each other’s schools on, except for when they played each other.

Gordon had a lifelong love of technology and a deep curiosity for how things worked. He also had a strong passion for aviation and loved flying small planes around the country, often describing it as “punching holes in the sky.” During his later years, as he lived with Parkinson’s disease, he spent countless hours watching aviation videos on YouTube, continuing to enjoy flight from the ground.

Music was also an important part of Gordon’s life. He played his father’s trombone in his early years and later the tuba. He was very proud to have played tuba in the University of Nebraska Marching Band. He passed his love of music on to his children and grandchildren, who played piano, viola, baritone horn, and guitar, and participated in school choirs and musical groups.

Among his children’s fondest memories are the camping (tent) and canoeing trips they shared with him, which became treasured family traditions.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Carolyn Seymour Hansen; children, Douglas A. Hansen (Sara), Karen A. Hansen, and Eric N. Hansen (Cody Hendricks); and grandchildren, Josh Brown (Carrie Kain), Syra Hansen, Stephen Hansen, and Braden Hall (Melody Gilmore). Brother and Sister-in-law, Dr. Richard and Vickie Seymour.

He was extremely fond of his nieces and nephews: Dennis (Jacqui), Diane (Mitch) Schaff, Val McKinney, Victoria (Paul) Springer, and Ryan (Helen) Seymour. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Edmund and Richard Hansen; sisters-in-law Sharon Hansen and Dee Hansen; and nephew David Hansen.

The family wishes to express deep appreciation to members of Team Gordon: Tammy, Tracey and Roland, Lisa, Willonda, Tea H, and Clarissa. The family is also indebted to Pastor Dave Craig, the nurses, CNAs, and staff of Transitions Hospice and Hopedale Medical Center for their compassionate care of him.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 4, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and a Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, May 5 at 10:30 a.m. at Haensel Oswald Funeral Home in Minier, 204 E. Central St., Minier, with a luncheon following at St. John’s Church of Christ Fellowship Hall, School Street, Minier, IL.  In honor of Gordon’s lifelong love of all things University of Nebraska, friends are encouraged to dress comfortably and wear red and white or their school colors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Minier Fire and Rescue Squad, the University of Nebraska Marching Band, and the American Parkinson’s Foundation.

Gordon will be remembered for his intelligence, humor, creativity, love of family, and the many ways he quietly built, fixed, and explored the world around him.

Clear skies!

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