Kenneth L. “Chief” Hansen

ALLEN — Kenneth L. “Chief” Hansen, 79, Allen, died Jan. 15, 2018, at Providence Medical Center, Wayne, after his courageous battle with Myelofibrosis.
Visitation and a scriptural wake service were Jan. 19 at the church.
Funeral services were Jan. 20 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Ponca, with Father Andrew L. Sohm officiating.
Burial was in Calvary at South Creek Cemetery, rural Ponca.
Arrangements were under the direction of Mohr Funeral Home, Ponca.
Kenneth was born in Wayne Jan. 1, 1939, to Walter and Ruth (Andersen) Hansen. He was raised on a farm west of Martinsburg. He attended country school until eighth grade, then finished high school and graduated from Allen High School in 1956. He then attended School of Business in Sioux City, Iowa. Kenneth took a job as a junior accountant until his Mom asked him to come back home to the family farm after his brother had been called to serve our country. Kenneth farmed, milked cows and raised hogs. While farming he held various jobs, working at the saw mill in Willis, road construction, and for the Dixon County Weed District. After retiring, he continued to raise hogs and farm his land until his health no longer allowed him. Kenneth’s love for animals was very apparent. His dog, Willy, was just like one of his children.
He married Mary Rose Boyle Sept. 9, 1961, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Jackson. Family was very important to Kenneth. He enjoyed attending all of the children and grandchildren’s activities over the years. His face would light up anytime he got to spend time with his great-grandchildren. They enjoyed helping him pick and eat strawberries, raspberries, apples and pears every year.
Kenneth is survived by his eight children and their spouses, Lee and Dawn Hansen, South Sioux City; David and Valerie Hansen, Ponca; Lisa and Doug Thompson, Laurel; Deanna and Chris Bennett, Ponca; Brian and Candice Hansen, Ponca; Barbara and Scott Pigg, Laurel; Marcia Malone, Lincoln; and Kristin and Luke Dixon, Anthon, Iowa; 27 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sisters, Arlene Patefield, Laurel, and Bernita Meyer, Wisner; two sisters-in-law, Patricia Hansen, Dell Rapids, S.D., and Helen Hansen, Coleridge; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, in 2015; his parents, Walter and Ruth Hansen; grandson, Jacob Bennett; son-in-law, Samuel Malone; brothers, Rodney and Maynard Hansen; sister, Vivian Lemke, and her husband, Leland; and brother-in-law, Milo Patefield.