Arvid Arthur Hansen

BELMOND - Arvid Arthur Hansen, age 92, of Belmond, formerly of Rowan, passed away Saturday (March 19, 2005) at the Belmond Health Care Center.

Funeral services for Mr. Hansen will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday at United Church of Rowan. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery near Rowan.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m.Thursday at Dugger Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane S. in Belmond and one hour prior to the service on Friday at United Church of Rowan.

Arvid Arthur Hansen was born on Dec. 14, 1912, to Arthur and Mabel (Olson) Hansen in rural Rowan, Iowa. He grew up and attended school in the Rowan area. Arvid graduated from Rowan High School in 1931.

A couple of years following graduation, Arvid attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls and Iowa State University in Ames. Following college, Arvid came home and farmed with his father.

On June 6, 1947, Arvid was united in marriage to L. Mildred Nielsen in Cedar Falls, Iowa. This marriage was blessed with three children: Darwin, Mariane, and Glenn.

The couple lived and farmed together on the family farm northwest of Rowan for many years. While on the farm, Arvid enjoyed delivering the Des Moines Sunday Register for a number of years no matter what the weather was like. Music was a very important part of Arvid's life as well as his family. He enjoyed playing in the bands, "Achin Hearts" and "Country Cousins" for numerous years. Arvid spent several years with the Civil Air Patrol.

Arvid and Mildred retired from farming in the spring of 1973 and moved to the family home in Rowan, Iowa. Arvid and Mildred enjoyed traveling to Europe on two different occasions and so enjoyed their winters in Texas. Their four grandchildren were their delight. Mildred passed away on Feb. 19, 1984, and Arvid continued to live in Rowan until Oct. 31, 2001, when his health forced him to enter the Belmond Health Care Center in Belmond, where he resided until his recent passing.

Arvid was a lifelong member of Rowan Lions Club and the United Church of Rowan. He enjoyed the activities at church. He was well known for his opening the doors for everyone at Congregate meals and his willingness to help people in need throughout the community.

Photography was also a great passion for Arvid. He so enjoyed taking pictures of various community events, his children, grandchildren, and especially the Hansen reunions.

Musical jam sessions with his children and grandchildren as well as with his friends played a huge part in his life. Arvid took great pride in all his musical instruments that he owned and played for various community events. He participated for several years in the July 4th parades at Belmond with his piano float.

In 1994, Arvid began his "Reminisce" column for the Belmond Independent. He took great pride in writing the weekly articles for 10 years, as well as mailing out his weekly columns to his relatives and friends.

Arvid is survived by his son, Darwin Hansen of Clarion; his daughter, Mariane, and her husband, Wayne Vestweber, of McAllen, Texas; his son, Glenn Hansen, and his wife, Sandy, of Belmond; his grandchildren Staff Sgt. Gregory Hansen, Fort Knox, Ky., Carl Vestweber, McAllen, Texas, Jennifer Hansen, St. Louis, Mo., Mark Vestweber, Ames; niece, LaNell Brandes, and her husband, John, of Waterloo, Iowa; nephew, Alvin Bailey and his wife, Becky, Rowan, Iowa; along with several grand-nieces and nephews, other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mildred; son-in-law, Norman Haupt; sister, Edna Bailey; nephew Lynn Bailey.

Dugger Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane S., Belmond, (641) 444-3248.