Randall “Randy” Hansen, age 69, of Anita, IA, passed away on Friday, March 24, 2023, at his residence in Anita, IA, after a long battle with kidney cancer & many surgeries.
Randall Lee Hansen was born in Manning, Iowa, the son of LeRoy and Dorothy (Frederick) Hansen. He attended Exira Schools, graduating with the class of 1971. Right out of school, Randy enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving from 1971-1975. In November of 1975, he was united in marriage with Nancy Potter of Griswold. Their son Michael (The Shop) came along to this union in November 1981. Shortly after Michael was born, Nancy passed away.
Randy worked in many places, but the one to remember was DANA. Because that is where he met Kathy Fisher Goodwin, they were married in May of 1994. Randy left DANA in 2005 and went to Quality Machine in Audubon, IA, before going into farming and raising a few cattle on his home place by Brayton.
He enjoyed many NASCAR races in Las Vegas, Kansas City, and Newton. His favorite drivers were Dale Earnhardt Sr. & Jr. and Sterling Marlin. Randy loved to hunt, trap, and fish. He was a gifted mechanic, you name it, and he could usually fix it. In 2015, he was forced into retirement after battling kidney cancer. Randy and Kathy sold the farm outside of Brayton and moved to Anita in 2021.
Those left in his memory are his wife, Kathy; sons Michael (friend Desiree) Hansen of Atlantic and Jessie (Jasmine) Goodwin of Mitchellville; grandchildren, Stone and Nancy Hansen, Desman Graeve, Dustin, Brodii, Harlie Goodwin; his father LeRoy Hansen of Elk Horn; brothers Robert (Lisa) of Atlantic, Rick (Janet) of Audubon, Roger (Brenda) of Collins, Rodney (Nancy) of Audubon; In-laws, George and Marty Fisher of Las Vegas, NV, Bill (Linda) Fisher of Greeley, CO, Michele (Duane) Wolfe of Eaton, CO, Thomas Fisher, Mary Fisher, Karen (Jon) Steffensen, of Anita, Mary (Frankie) and Galen Crozier of Corning, Elizabeth (Tim) McNeal of Richmond, KY. All the Neil Potter family and many nieces and nephews, way too many to mention.
Preceding in death are his mother, Dorothy, his grandparents, and his former wife, Nancy Potter Hansen.
Kathy called him “Over Opinionated”; others called him “Grumpy Old Fart.” That’s just who he was. Randy was always Randy.
Many thanks to Hospice of the Midwest and the doctors who helped Randy along his journey. Especially the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.
Per Randy’s wish, a private interment will be at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter, IA.
A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, April 16, 2023, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m., at the Anita Community Center in Anita, IA.
Memorials may be directed to Randy and his family. They will be designated to his favorite local organizations and charities in memory of him. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
Arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Anita, IA.
