Norman Theodore Hansen

Norman Theodore Hansen, 69, died Wed., August 27, 2003, at Community Hospital North, with family beside him. He was born Nov. 1, 1933 in Wildwood, NJ, the son of Norman L. & Marguerite Williams-Hansen. Despite the loss of his father when just 16, Norm attained greatness in HS sports and in boy scouting, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout while growing up in Fairhaven, MA. Following college, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he would proudly, and heroically serve his country for 20 years. He mastered the skills of pilot, navigator, and bombardier, commanding missions for both the USAF and CIA, flying at times at twice the speed of sound. He retired having achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel, while serving as Deputy Base Commander, Grissom Air Force Base, in Indiana. Norm married Ernestine Michalak in 1954, and together raised two children, Debra, and Norman, Jr. After 38 years of marriage, he lost his beloved wife to cancer. In 1992, Norm married a Fairhaven High School schoolmate, Carol Terry Zellman, and brought her to Indianapolis, and to his family, where they shared 11 years together. Norm was a member of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, and a devoted member of its choir, and was known for his joyous singing and organ playing. He was a member of the Massachusetts Masonic Lodge for over 50 years, the Retired Officers Assoc. of Indpls., the 98th Bomb Wing, B-58 305th Bomb Wing, and the C-7 Caribou Air Force veteran associations. Survivors include his wife, Carol Terry Zellman; 1 son, and 4 daughters and sons-in-law: Norman T. Hansen, Jr.; Debra L. (Dan) Meno, of Indianapolis; Bonnie (Gary) Stone, of Portland, ME; Kim (David) Bannister, of Lexington, SC; and Debi Zellman, of Charleston, SC.; and 8 grandchildren: Lauren & Bryan Wood, Nicholas Hansen, Jason Meno, Samuel & Benjamin Stone, Shayna & Daniel Banister. Calling will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, August 31, followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m., at Flanner & Buchanan Funeral Center - Broad Ripple, 1305 E. Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis. The family has requested, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society -or- to the American Lung Association.