Visitation Friday, August 10, 2018 5:00 - 8:00 PM Ohde Funeral Home Manning
Funeral Service Saturday, August 11, 2018 11:00 AM Trinity Church at Hausbarn Heritage Park Manning
Reverend Robert Riggert, Officiating
Congregational Music "Beautiful Savior" "I Know That My Redeemer Lives" "I Am Jesus' Little Lamb" "Nunc Dimittis"
Carolyn Kerkhoff, Accompanist
Casket Bearers: Tamma Nelson, Timothy Anderson, Calvin Hansen, Heather Anderson, Nathaniel Minis, Thomas Hansen, Jonathan Hansen, Matthew Houseman
Interment Manning Cemetery Manning

Robert Dethlef Hansen, son of Hugo and Leatha (Comstock) Hansen, was born January 3, 1930, in Manning, Iowa. He grew up on his parent's farm southwest of Gray and graduated from Gray Consolidated School in 1947. He farmed with his father until he established his own farm in 1951, also southwest of Gray.

Robert was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church. He and Ruth Kanning were married there on November 5, 1950. As a life-long member, he was active in many capacities from Sunday School teacher to elder. In 1999 when Trinity Lutheran Church closed, Robert and Ruth transferred their memberships to St. John's Lutheran Church in Audubon. Upon moving to Manning in 2014, they became members of Zion Lutheran Church. He and Ruth enjoyed traveling, including spending time at Camp Okoboji and visiting family. Robert was a loving husband and father with a good sense of humor. He and Ruth raised six children who always enjoyed coming back to the farm.

Robert served on the Audubon school board, had memberships in pork and lamb associations, was an agent for Home Mutual Insurance in Manning and worked part time at Quality Machines in Audubon. As a charter member of the Gray Community Betterment Corporation, he joined others in keeping Gray School a community hub. He did everything from changing light bulbs to helping with Bingo, hunter's weekend, the annual fish fry or anything else they could dream or scheme to do.

A life-long, hard-working farmer, Robert kept a dairy herd and also raised hogs, sheep, and even goats. As time permitted and necessity required, he welded, repaired, repurposed, and recycled around the farm.

After Ruth passed away on January 20, 2016, Robert moved to the Manning Plaza Nursing Home, then Char-Mac Assisted Living for a time, before moving back to the Manning Plaza. He passed away on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in Manning. He was 88 years, 7 months and 4 days of age.

Robert is survived by five children: Barbara (Steve) Anderson of Cedar Rapids; Colleen (Stuart) Minis of Shrewsbury, New Jersey; David (Paula) Hansen of Omaha, Nebraska; Jean Hansen Houseman of Silvis, Illinois; and Gary (Jeanette) Hansen of Florence, Kentucky; 8 grandchildren; brother Norman (Roni) Hansen of Carroll; sister-in-law Leola Kanning of Atlantic; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ruth Hansen; a child at birth and son Craig Hansen; sisters Margaret (Robert) Nygaard, Lilith (Valgene) Kruse, and Elaine Hansen as a young girl.