Kent Allen Hansen, the son of Harvey Curtis and Colleen Mae (Johnson) Hansen, was born March 3, 1951 in Atlantic, IA and died October 15, 2026 at the age of 75 years old. Kent was baptized at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church in Elk Horn, IA. He attended Kindergarten at the Elk Horn-Kimballton Elementary School in Kimballton. The family moved to Atlantic in 1956 and he then attended Jackson School through the sixth grade, Junior High at Atlantic schools and graduated from Atlantic High School in 1969. While in Junior High and High School, he helped his grandfather, Earl Johnson, farm west of Elk Horn. Spending time with his grandparents on the farm was the highlight of his youth. He has shared many stories of the love that surrounded their family.
Kent attended Iowa Western Community College studying the Farm Diesel Mechanic trade, graduating in 1971. Then he went to work for Mel Glen Equipment in Anita for one year. Next, he was employed by Nelson Equipment, a John Deere Dealer in Atlantic, and worked there until 1985. He worked for American Ag Transport for a short time as a mechanic, until the business closed. He went on to work for Faga Implement until 2000. Lastly, he worked at Lindeman Tractor in Atlantic, until he retired in 2016. In retirement he worked part-time for Agriland FS in Avoca, with his son, Eric.
On August 7, 1976, Kent married the love of his life, Julie Ann (Jensen) Hansen. To this union three children were born, Eric, Kari and Andrea. Kent loved to work on old tractors, go camping, get together with friends and family, the past years attending the Friday Night Supper Club. He loved to spend winters in Arizona or anywhere warm and camp around Iowa in the summers. Kent dearly loved any time spent with his seven grandchildren, attending their school, sporting and summer activities and reading them books. He treasured the days spent in Wyoming visiting his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters. He loved the mountains and site seeing near their home.
He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic, where he was confirmed. He was also a past member of the Church Council, where he was Council President twice. He was a die-hard Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs fan. Everything had to stop if the Hawkeyes or Cubs were on TV. The highlight of his sports world was when he attended a Cubs Spring Training game in Mesa, AZ in 2017 with his sister, Kathy, and brother-in-law, Jim, and an Iowa Cubs game with his daughter, Andrea, and son-in-law, Andy, to celebrate his grandson, Caiden’s 7th birthday.
Kent was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Colleen Hansen, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Junior and Elaine Jensen, sister-in-law, Peggy Jensen, and his Basset Hound buddies, Abner and Chopper. Survivors include his wife, Julie, son Eric and his wife, Brenda, of Marne and their children, Haley (significant other, Wyatt), Gavin and Adelyn; daughter Kari and her husband, Mike Henn, of Pinedale, WY and their children, Karsyn and Baylee; daughter Andrea and her husband, Andy Lounsberry, of Cedar Falls, IA and their sons, Caiden and Rhett; sister Kathy Beckett (Jim), of Tubac, AZ; sisters-in-law, Lana Wiges of Hamlin, IA and Brenda (Lony) Haubrich of Manning, IA, brother-in-law, Lony Jensen (Teresa) of Guthrie Center, IA.; nieces, nephews, extended relatives, many special friends and his best buddy, Charlee, the Basset Hound.
Kent’s wish was to live to meet his great-granddaughter, Elsie May, near the end of November, but in our hearts we know he will watch over her from Heaven when she is born.
Kent will be remembered as a loving husband, father and Papa, an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan, a proud Dane, and as a gentle giant, resulting in his nickname, Gentle Ben, for most of his life.
Memorial Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Atlantic with Pastor Lauri Boysen officiating.
Visitation with the family will be from 10:00 a.m. on 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church.
Burial will be at a later date at the Elk Horn Cemetery in Elk Horn.
Memorials may be directed to the Family and will be designated at a later date. They may be mailed to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Atlantic.
