John Lee Hansen, the son of John Christian Marinus and Jenasena (Mann) Hansen, was born October 14, 1929, at his parents’ home in rural Audubon County near Viola, Iowa, and died November 5, 2020, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa, at the age of 91 years and 26 days.
John was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended rural school near Viola then helped operate the family farm and drove truck for Williams Truck Lines. On May 5, 1953, John was inducted into the United States Army. During his tour of duty he served stateside in Colorado. He was honorably discharged on May 4, 1955, and returned to Audubon where he continued to farm and was employed as a truck driver for Bill Kauffman.
On October 4, 1956, he was united in marriage to Darlene Evelyn Kroger Christensen in Harlan, Iowa. They blended with Darlene’s children Connie and Danny and were blessed with six more children: Shawna, Jennie, Shiela, Ray, Jay, and John, Jr. They operated the family farm northwest of Viola Center, Iowa. They grew row crops and raised livestock. After the family farm was sold, John then helped Nick Jensen and later Glen Juelsgaard operate their farms. In 1969, they moved into Audubon and he drove truck and shelled corn for Ben Kardell. He purchased the corn shelling business and also started his own trucking business. He started with a straight truck and then later bought semi’s where he hauled grain and livestock for many years until he retired in 2015 due to health issues.
John was a member of the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin until it closed. During retirement John and Darlene spent several winters in Texas. He enjoyed bowling but most of all he loved spending time with his grandchildren teaching them to fish and playing games with them.
Preceding him in death was his wife, Darlene E. Hansen; his son, Danny Thomas Christensen; his brothers and sisters: Carl Nielsen, Vernon Hansen, Warren Hansen, Robert Hansen, Raymond Hansen, and Karen Hansen; 4 sisters-in-law; and 5 brothers-in-law.
Survivors include his children: Connie Schmidt of Fairmont, Minnesota, Shawna Hansen, Jennie and husband Todd Cogley, Shiela and husband Tom Siepker, Ray Hansen, Jay Hansen, and John and wife Lisa Hansen all of Audubon, Iowa; his 11 grandchildren: Tami Smid, Todd and wife Jacquie Schmidt, Angel Siepker and significant other Scott Hogue, Dan Hansen, Jenn Hansen and fiancé Cameron Selix, Kenneth and wife Alayna Hansen, Jared and wife Sadie Hansen, Bliss Weitl, Pamela Hansen and significant other Sam Sides, John Lee Hansen III and significant other Hilaree Walter, and Jordan Hansen; 23 great grandchildren; 13 great-great grandchildren; his sisters-in-law: Beverly Obermeier of Audubon, Marilyn Andersen and Jeanette Kroger both of Harlan, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at a later date at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Inurnment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.
Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon is in charge of arrangements.
