Joseph Hanssen

Joseph "Joe" Hanssen, 94, of Ankeny peacefully passed away at home on September 14, 2023.
A visitation will be held at Saylorville Church in Des Moines (6429 NW 6th Dr) at 10 am on Friday, October 6, 2023 with a funeral to follow at 11 am.
Joe was born in New Rochelle, NY on September 24, 1928, to Willem and Theresia Hanssen of Belgium. He and his twin brother were the youngest of six children. In 1930, the family moved back to Antwerp, Belgium where Joe spent his childhood. Because he was born in the United States, Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1946 and honorably served during the Nuremberg Trials. Joe returned to the United States in 1948 where he completed his high school education on Long Island at North Port High School and finished one year at Georgetown University. Joe moved to Des Moines, Iowa where his daughter Theresa was born. In 1960, Joe married Marlene Bunjer and had two sons, Joseph Jr., and James.
Joe worked at Meredith Publishing for 43 years. After retiring, he worked part-time at Des Moines Community College for 14 years. Joe enjoyed attending his kid's sports activities, working outside in his yard, reading, and spending time with his family. Joe was content with what he had and was always willing to give more. Joe loved people and would go out of his way to speak with anyone he could. Most importantly, Joe loved the Lord. This was evident in the way he served as an usher at Saylorville Church and daily visited his mother-in-law while she was in a nursing home. Joe was a faithful and loving husband to his wife Marlene and ended each day with an "I love you."
Joe is survived by his wife, Marlene Hanssen; daughter, Theresa Hanssen (Jim Doggett); sons, Joseph (Deborah) and James (Claire) Hanssen; grandchildren, Abigail, Jacob, Ethan, Willem, Liam, and Emilie Hanssen; sister-in-law, Dolores Bunjer; as well as many nieces, nephews and loving family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Willem and Theresia Hanssen; siblings, Jan (Lillo), Herman (Lilly), Anna (Louis), Molly (Jack), and twin, Cyrille (Doris); parents-in-law, Rose and Martin Bunjer; brother and sister-in-law, Lonnie and Theatta Brandmeyer; and brother-in-law, Virgil Bunjer.
The family would like to thank Baptist Health Hospital in Lexington, KY for Joe's wonderful care as well as the Senior and Bible Readers and Prayer Warriors groups at Saylorville Church for their loving communication and faithful prayers as they supported both Joe and Marlene.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to https://www.hopeiowa.org/donatenow/