Richard J. Hansen, 75, Marshfield, left us to be with his Savior after living with Parkinson’s disease for the last 16 years on Friday, March 18, 2022 at Wells Nature View, 2711 S. Apple Ave., Marshfield. He will be truly missed by his wife Janice (Jan-Sunshine) whom he was married to for 42 years. He loved her and their family, their grandchildren and great grandchild.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, March 24, 2022 at St. John’s Catholic Church, Marshfield, where the family will receive relatives and friends from 9:00 am until service time. Rev. James Weighner will officiate. Interment will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery Columbarium where military rites will be conducted. A Knights of Columbus rosary service will be held at 8:30 am Thursday at St. John’s Catholic Church. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Richard was born on July 1, 1946 in Marshfield, Wisconsin, to James and Violet (Braem) Hansen. Upon graduating from Marshfield Senior High School he joined the Army National Guard. He loved his country by serving it well for just under 24 years. He served during the Vietnam era, the Gresham uprising and the Waupun Prison riots in Wisconsin and then continued his service in Odessa, Texas. He was honorably discharged in 2006.
He married Barbara Petrie in May of 1969 and they divorced. He later married Janice Lang on November 30, 1979 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Bakerville.
After graduating from Automotive Technical School in 1965 he owned and operated Hansen’s Southside Skelly and later worked for Crown Olds Cadillac. In 1981 he moved their family to Alpine Texas where they lived until 1990. While there, he worked as service manager for Haas Motor Company and later as counselor for High Frontier in Fort Davis, Texas, a home for troubled youth. While in Alpine he was very active at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church serving on many ministries.
In 1991 to 2000 he and the family returned to Marshfield, working at Fleet Farm of Marshfield, assistant manager in Clintonville and then Green Bay.
Once again in August of 2000 Alpine was calling his name. He loved Southwest Texas and what it had to offer, open range, warm weather, the Mexican Community and the friends they left prior. His saying was “either you love Texas or you hate it”. He loved it!
He loved his cycles, Muzzle loaders, and going on rendezvous with his buddies. But his greatest enjoyment was his ham radios whom his brother Don got him interested in. He belonged to the Big Bend Amateur Radio Club of Alpine. He loved field day which came once a year and he loved spotting and chasing storms. His call sign being KA5NJA (not just anybody). You could always find him in his radio room talking to people from around the world.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2006 he moved his family for the final time back to Marshfield in 2007, finishing his career at Wal Mart.
He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, The Knights of Columbus 3rd Degree, American Legion, and a True Veteran of the U.S.A. He will be missed by all who knew his quick wit and dry sense of humor. As he would say thousands of times (this is KA5NJA – not just anybody over and out!)
He is survived by his wife, Jan and children, Jeffrey (Jessica) Hansen of Pickerington, OH, Kim (Damian) Nelson of Allardt, TN, Kristina Hansen (Christopher Williams) of Spencer, WI, Brenda (Robert) Korth of Hewitt, WI, and Robert (Julie) Nelles, Jr. of Cambridge, WI. He is also survived by grandchildren, Sydney and Connor Hansen, Cody and Colby Korth and Owain, Ian and Ellie Nelles and one great grandson, Koffee Hansen. He is further survived by a brother, Don (Kathy) Hansen of Marshfield.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a niece, Rachel Hansen.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church or Marshfield Senior High Athletic Program.
The family wishes to thank Wells Nature View manager, Patti Henney and her staff for all the loving care they gave to Richard the last five years and a special thanks to the Heartland Hospice team of Stevens Point.
Condolences may be sent to www.rembsfh.com.
