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Hansen, Richard LaVern
Richard LaVern Hansen, 86, of West Union, formerly of Elkader, passed away after a short illness on Oct. 28, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Society in West Union.
He was born July 27, 1927, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, to Oscar and Leah (Moore) Hansen.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Carol Jean (Twinam) Hansen; his parents; and a daughter-in-law, Wanda (Johnson) Hansen.
He is survived by two sons, Ronald L. (Jeaqueline) of Doral, Fla., and Craig A. (Lien) Hansen of Tucson, Ariz.; and a brother, Russell Hansen of Mesa, Ariz. Other survivors include five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter, two nieces and several cousins.
Richard graduated from Cedar Falls High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and married Carol at the Little Brown Church in 1945. Following the war, he secured degrees from Iowa State Teachers College, Drake University, and the University of Northern Iowa, and devoted 40 years to education. He served as a teacher, high school principal, superintendent, special education director, county superintendent (Chickasaw and Fayette counties), and retired in 1989 as administrator of the Keystone Area Agency.
He was a member of the West Union United Methodist Church, the American Legion since World War II, the Lions and Rotary clubs, the Elkader and West Union Masonic lodges, West Union History and Literature Club, the National Education Association, and both the National and Iowa Association of School Administrators.
Richard passed on with deep appreciation for the many years of love and support provided by Carol and their sons. He was particularly proud of his sons' accomplishments and their families.
A service will be held at Burnham-Wood Funeral Home, West Union, at 1 p.m. Nov. 2, with a visitation one hour before. Inurnment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, Cedar Falls. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Good Samaritan Society, West Union, IA 52175.
S.K. Rogers Funeral Home in West Union is in charge of the arrangements.
Published Nov. 1, 2013 in The Gazette
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