Don Zubrod and Orren Hansen went to boot camp together at Fort Bliss, Texas
Taken from the 1981 Gray Centennial book
Fred O. Hansen was inducted into the U.S. Army February 4, 1952. He was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, for his basic training.
He attended a radar mechanic school for nine months, also at Fort Bliss.
He was then transferred to Fort Monroe, Virginia, to operate a Radar M-3 until his discharge February 3, 1954.
SERVICES 11:00 a.m., Friday January 31, 2020 First Presbyterian Church Sac City, Iowa
OFFICIATING Reverend Missy Brown
VISITATION 5:00-8:00 p.m., Thursday January 30, 2020 Farber & Otteman Funeral Home Sac City
INTERMENT 1:30 p.m., Friday January 31, 2020 Manning Cemetery
Fred Orren Hansen, age 92 of Sac City, Iowa, formerly of Denison, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 27, 2020, at Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View, Iowa. Fred Orren Hansen was born on December 11, 1927, to parents Fred P. and Hilda (Rowedder) Hansen in Hayes Township just south of Westside, Iowa. He was baptized on October 19, 1929, at his parents' home.
Fred grew up and went to school in Gray, Iowa. He graduated from Gray Community School with the Class of 1946 as valedictorian. Sports were always a big part of his life, playing basketball during high school and then after graduating, playing softball with the local Gray softball team.
On June 4, 1950, Fred married LaRue Hagge, the love of his life, at the Presbyterian Church in Manning. Growing up, he was always known as Orren to his family and friends but after being drafted into the United States Army on February 4, 1952, he would be called by his given name, Fred. He and LaRue lived in El Paso, Texas, while he was in radar training and then later moved to Fort Monroe, Virginia, until he was honorably discharged on February 3, 1954. After returning home, he and LaRue settled on a farm near Gray. Soon their family would begin with daughters, Cheryl and Lisa. They raised their girls in Denison where Fred worked as a butcher in a grocery store for many years. Later he would work in the quality control department for Farmland Foods where he retired in 1993 after 16 years of working there.
Fred loved being outdoors, whether working in the yard or in the garden. His favorite things included an annual fishing trip to Minnesota in June. Fred loved to watch the Chicago Cubs ballgames. It was a longtime watching for dedicated fans like Fred and his brother Bob until the Cubs won the World Series in 2016. He also enjoyed watching the Iowa Hawkeyes play football and basketball and rarely missed an Iowa State game. Fred was a very supportive fan; always attending his grandchildren's sporting events. Although he never had a son, Fred was blessed with two sons-in-laws and enjoyed time spent with them fishing, watching ballgames or playing cards. Fred was a family man and spent many weekends with his brothers and cousins and their families. There would most likely be a game of penny-ante poker or some other card game going on. Fred loved to sit on the deck and listen to the Big Band Music of the 40s, or Lawrence Welk or even some Polka. If he wasn't watching a ballgame on TV, his favorite shows were Blue Bloods or watching Hallmark Movies with his daughters. There might be a tear in their eyes, but there was always a happy ending. After retirement, Fred and LaRue loved spending time near their children at their cabin on Black Hawk Lake in Lake View.
Fred was a very thoughtful and soft-spoken person that would greet you with his smile. He was a loving caregiver who helped LaRue take care of her parents when they became older by taking them to ballgames, fairs, and parades. Later when LaRue had health issues, he was always by her side and took her to appointments. The greatest gift a parent can give their children is to show by example the person they should be.
Fred's gentle and caring nature will be dearly missed by all that knew and loved him. Those left to cherish his memory include his daughters, Cheryl Campbell of Sac City, Iowa, and Lisa (Chuck) Struchen of Early, Iowa; grandchildren: Timothy (Adrienne) Campbell of Commerce City, Colorado, Todd (Abigail) Campbell of Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, Ashley Struchen (fiancé Darick Wold) of Owatonna, Minnesota, and Austin Struchen (fiancé Rachel Boyle) of Holstein, Iowa; great-grandchildren: Ava, Sean and Sophia Campbell of Commerce City, Colorado, and Warren, Henry and William Campbell of Saint Johnsbury, Vermont; many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 56 years, LaRue Hansen; son-in-law, Warren Campbell; brothers: Alvin (Alice) Hansen, Melvin Hansen, Robert Hansen, and Billy (Maureen) Hansen; parents-in-law, Melvin and Eldora Hagge.
The Hansen family first lived one mile west of Manning on the old Delmar Mundt farm.
Bob Hansen remembers the winter of 1935-36 when his older brothers
had to walk down to the Milwaukee tracks and then into town to get groceries and walk back home.
In 1936 the Hansen family moved to the farm by Gray, where Bob lived until his retirement in 1992, after-which Bob and his brother, Mel, moved to Manning.
From Fred Orren to his parents
From Fred Orren to his parents
Robert "Bobby" Hansen
Melvin Hansen
September 7, 1942
Back: Alvin, Hilda (Rowedder), Fred, Melvin
Front: Fred Orren, Robert, Billie
Billie Lee Hansen
Bobby went to visit Orren when he was in Texas, they went to Carlsbad Cavern when Orren was on leave.
Alvin Hansen, Peter Moeller, Amanda Moeller, Hilda Hansen, Melvin Hansen, Fred Hansen
Moellers and Hansens were good friends and neighbors
Mel Hansen & Harold "Porky" Moeller
? Langbehn, Jimmy Rowedder's wife, Mary, Hilda Hansen, Melvin Hansen, Art Ahrendsen, Bobby Hansen
Langbehn worked for Jimmy Rowedder in California where they sold shoes
Harold Beck, could be Alfred David, Orren Hansen, Leroy Sorensen, Bobby Hansen
Fred Orren, Melvin, Hilda (Rowedder), Bobbie, Alvin
Bill not in the picture - passed away from heart complications - he had Marfan syndrome
Taken in the farm home by Gray
Back: Hilda Rowedder, Ella Rowedder, Margaret (Vollmer)
Front: wife of Herman Rowedder, Julius Rowedder