Hansel, Lester 'Les' Lee

Lester “Les” Lee Hansel, 75, of Guttenberg, passed away Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at the Guttenberg Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Guttenberg, with visitation from 9 to 10 a.m. at the church. Burial will be at Mount Harmony Cemetery, Elkport, with military rites by the American Legion, Guttenberg. Arrangements handled by Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Guttenberg.

Les was born July 4, 1935, to Samual Dale and Marjorie Francis (Waterman) Hansel. He married Clarine Fenton on April 18, 1955, and from this marriage came three children. They were later divorced. He married Jane Brandel Schneider on Dec. 30, 1988, in Guttenberg. Jane passed away on Nov. 13, 2009, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

After graduating from high school, Les served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1958. Upon discharge from the Army, he began his 30-year career working for John Deere in Dubuque, retiring in 1988. During that time, he also farmed.

Throughout his life, Les enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing, trapping and looking for mushrooms and ginseng. In later years, he took up the game of golf. Les was a member of the American Legion, Colesburg and the Guttenberg Eagles Club, Turkey Valley Fox Hunters Association, Colesburg Gun Club and Lone Pine Country Club.

Les and Jane were snowbirds, heading south to Texas each winter. During their time there they enjoyed bingo, walking along the beach collecting seashells, fishing and visiting the pier in Port Aransas, Texas. Whether they were in Texas or Guttenberg, they loved to feed the chipmunks and birds.

Survivors include his son, Randy Hansel of Cedar Rapids and his children, Heather (Brad) Walker and their children, McKenzie and Bryce Walker and April Hansel (Shawn Port) and their daughter, Olivia. Les's daughter, Christine (Randy) Merchant of Minnesota and their children, Melissa (Mike) Becker and son, Caleb Allan; Nathan Merchant, Laura (Eric) Suel and their children, Alani and Jackson Suel; John (Jessica) Merchant, Matthew Merchant and Elizabeth Merchant.

Les is also survived by stepchildren, Diane (Kenny) Greve of Guttenberg and their children, Jeremy and Kelsey Greve, Greg (Debbie) Schneider of Granbury, Texas, and their children, Candice Schneider and Kyle (Katie) Stryker and their children, Luke Mehrtens and Lily Stryker, Linda Schneider Kremer of Manchester and her children, Gwen and Matthew Kremer, Connie Schneider of Farmington, Minn., and her child, Alexis Schneider-Brock, Don (Jody) Schneider of North Liberty and their children, Cody and Conor Schneider, Ron (Denise) Schneider of Guttenberg and their children, Lori and Brody, Doug (Pat) Schneider of Vinton and their children, Emily and Riley Schneider.

Surviving sisters are Shirley Shelton of St. Charles, La., Joanne (Chuck) Ranken of Marshalltown, Karen (Bob) Becicka and Sandra Brown, both of Walford, and Patsy (Carol) Stone of Edgewood.

Les was preceded in death by his son, Colin; his parents; wife, Jane; and brothers, Roger and Neil Hansel.

In lieu of flowers and statuaries, memorials may be sent to the family of Les Hansel, P.O. Box 724, Guttenberg, IA 52052.