Donald Hansen

Donald J. Hansen, 88, of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 21, 2023 at Drumlin Memory Care in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.

He was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin on April 23, 1935 to Norman and Alice (Kissinger) Hansen and raised by his beloved Uncle Erick and Aunt Doris Erickson. After graduating from Marshfield High School, he enlisted in the Army in 1954, serving mostly in Germany, learning the electrician trade while helping rebuild Germany after World War II. After his honorable discharge in 1956, he returned home to Marshfield where he married his high school sweetheart, Arline Budtke, who he continued to love even after her death in 1998.

Don held two Bachelors degrees and a Masters degree from Stout University, and taught for a short while in Menominee, Wisconsin. He worked in the building department of the University of Wisconsin Madison, and for the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration as Construction Supervisor, overseeing the construction of State projects throughout much of the state. After retiring in 2004 he fulfilled his dream of moving to his beloved Northwoods of Wisconsin, building a house with his second wife, Linda. They lived near Sayner, Wisconsin until 2014, returning to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin when Don's health started to decline.

Don was a man of many skills, including woodworking, electrical, and all sorts of mechanical skills. He often restored and rebuilt pieces of furniture, making them new and vibrant again. He loved forestry and had a great knowledge of trees, replanting seedlings instead of destroying them.

Don loved the Northwoods, particularly Oneida and Vilas Counties where he spent most of his life hunting, fishing, boating whenever he wasn't working. He considered the woods his church and found peace in just sitting under a tree. He loved to take his beloved beagle Petunia for walks in the woods.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Arline, his 3 brothers, Ken, Bill, and Dick Hansen. He is survived by his daughter Kim D. Ross (Wayne); his son, Kirk J. Hansen (Melinda); his wife of 23 years, Linda Hansen; Grandson, Eric R. Hansen; Granddaughter Karley F.X. Ross; and a number of stepchildren and stepgrandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Drumlin Memory Care and Bristol Hospice for their support and tender care during Don's last year.

Don was a loving, generous husband, father and grandfather who can now finally rest having lived a full life. He never lost his sense of humor, even with the late stages of Alzheimer's. One of his favorite sayings at the end of his life was to greet the staff at Drumlin with "Kaboom." We love him and miss him.

Private family services will be held at a later date.