Eugene Nis Hansen

1933 - 2013

Funeral services for Eugene N. Hansen, 79, were conducted by Pastor Matt Andersen on Monday, March 18, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton. Interment was in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Kimballton. The honorary casket bearers were his grandchildren: Jill Cornell, Jennifer Weisenborn, Jaime Christensen, Daniel Blom, David Blom and Stephen Blom. The casket bearers were Cole Christensen, Terry Weisenborn, Glen Cornell, Ron Jespersen, Dan Hansen, Dale Hansen, Jim Hansen, and Ryan Peer. The Kessler Funeral Home in Exira was in charge of the arrangements. 
Eugene Nis Hansen, the son of Hans Thomas and Bertha Viola (Jacobsen) Hansen, was born July 1, 1933, on the family farm northwest of Kimballton in Jackson Township, Shelby County, and died March 13, 2013 at Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, at the age of 79 years, 8 months, and 12 days.
Eugene was baptized and confirmed at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton, where he had been a lifelong member. He attended Jackson #6 and completed the eighth grade. Eugene then worked for various farmers and for Everett Greve Trucking in Jacksonville until he enlisted in the United States Army in 1954. During his tour of duty he was stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., and Fort Lee, Va. Eugene graduated from Quartermaster School and got a degree in laundry and dry cleaning. He then went to Seattle, Wash., to leave for Korea for 18 months. While there he enjoyed a trip to Japan with his good friend Jack Schaben. He was honorably discharged in December of 1955 and worked again at Greve Trucking. In 1957, he started farming one mile north of Kimballton and also drove school bus for the Elk Horn Community Schools. On Thanksgiving Day of 1957, he was involved in a corn picking accident north of Kimballton.
On Feb. 28, 1958, he was united in marriage to Kathryn Ann Andersen of Brayton at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton. To this union five children were born: Julie Ann, Thomas Eugene, Linda Jane, Mary Kathryn and Todd Eugene.
Eugene continued farming various farms around the area until he purchased his current farm in 1966, where he lived until his death. Besides growing corn and beans, he raised livestock including cattle and hogs. After retiring from farming, Eugene enjoyed working for Chem-Trol with his son, Tom, traveling around Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Eugene enjoyed fishing, including many trips to Canada, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Spirit Lake. He was a lifetime member of the Harry Albertsen Amvets Post #51, American Legion Ballou Post #332 (39 years), and Dale Christensen VFW Post #4119.  He served on the Audubon/Exira Co-op board. Eugene battled various health issues in his later years and due to his health he received kidney dialysis for one and a half years. He enjoyed life and fought hard to live for his family. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and "Papa Gene" to his great-grandchildren. He so enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his wife Kathryn of nearly 51 years; his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Hans C. and Emma Andersen; an infant brother; his brothers: Galen Hansen and Dennis Hansen; his brother-in-law Don Jespersen; and his sister-in-law Delores Andersen.
Survivors include his children: Julie and husband Allan Nissen; Thomas E. Hansen; Linda Hansen all of Exira; Mary and husband Burt Blom of Marshalltown; and Todd Hansen and special friend Tonia Lozano both of Elk Horn; his grandchildren: Jill and husband Glen Cornell of Windsor Heights; Jennifer and husband Terry Weisenborn of Exira; Jaime and husband Cole Christensen of Hamlin; Daniel Blom, David Blom and Stephen Blom all of Marshalltown; his great-grandchildren: Nora Elizabeth Cornell and Lily Kathryn Cornell both of Windsor Heights; Tatum Eugene Christensen of Hamlin; Hayden Eugene Weisenborn of Exira; his step-great-grandson Caleb Weisenborn of Exira; his brothers: Leon and wife Cheryl Hansen of Jacksonville; Jerry and wife Sherry Hansen of Harlan; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Robert and wife Betty Andersen of Des Moines; Richard and wife Margaret Andersen of Brayton; Dorothy Jespersen of Rogers, Ark.; Harvey and wife Carol Andersen of Palestine, Texas; and Bertha and husband Darrell Schroeter of Exira; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other relatives and good friends.