Gunnar Vasaas Hansen Obituary (1923 - 2007)

Gunnar Vasaas Hansen was born June 10, 1923 at Asker, Norway, the son of Hans Kristian and Laura Marie Vasaas Hansen. When Gunnar was five years of age, his family moved to the United States and settled near Chicago, Illinois. He attended schools at Kentland, Indiana and graduated with the class of 1941. He worked in Chicago until WWII broke out. He served with the U.S. Army 555th Engineers, building bridges in Europe from 1943 until his Honorable discharge in 1946. He then attended Purdue University and graduated in 1949. Gunnar was united in marriage to Elinor Jean Hanaway on August 18, 1951, at the Grace Lutheran Church at Logansport, Indiana. To this union were born three children: Karen, David, and James. Gunnar taught school in Bunker Hill, Indiana, until 1958, when he moved his family to Iowa. He farmed near Lamont, taught school in Lamont and then Starmont Schools until 1973, when he retired from full time teaching. He was always active in the Lamont community including St. Peter's Lutheran Church, a member of Solomon Lodge #554, Sons of Norway, Loren Foster American Legion, and was a past Starmont School Board Member. He liked to fish, do woodworking, travel, and being involved in the political process. Gunnar entered into his eternal rest on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at his farm home southeast of Lamont following complications from Multiple Myeloma. He was 83 years of age. Survivors include his wife Elinor Jean; his daughter, Karen (David F.) Martin of Marion; his two sons: David (Susan) Hansen from Masonville and James (Janet) Hansen from Independence; his grandchildren: Katrina Martin, Kyle (Kayla) Martin, Christopher Hansen, Nicole (William Thurn) Hansen; Holly, Ryan, and Haley Hansen; great grandchildren Amira and Alex Thurn; one sister Ellen Mann from Decatur, IN; and one brother Richard Hansen of Kokomo, IN. Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday February 23, 2007 in St. Peter's Lutheran Church at Lamont with Rev. Roger McKinstry and Intern Ruth Kaden officiating. A military memorial service will be held at the conclusion of the service by the Lamont American Legion. Interment will be at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials will be given for a Dollars For Scholars Scholarship in Gunnar Hansen's name. Friends may call from 3 PM until 7:30 PM Thursday Feb. 22 at the Fawcett Funeral Home in Lamont and after 10 AM Friday at the Church. A Masonic service will be held Thursday evening at 7:30 P.M. at Fawcett Funeral Home in Lamont.