Paul Hansen

Paul Hansen, age 87 passed away April 16^th at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton South Dakota. 
A small graveside service and a singing of Paul’s favorite hymns will be held at the Union cemetery, rural Wakonda conducted by Pastor Jeff Marty and Patty Anderson on Saturday, April 27, 2024 beginning at 11:00AM.

Paul was born February 21^st, 1937, in a log cabin near Turner Bay, Idaho to Nels Lars Hansen (1895-1977) an Immigrant from Denmark, and Christine Delzer Hansen (1910-2010) from North Dakota. He attended one room and rural schools in Perkins County South Dakota. Often on horseback. Ruth Rosenau was his first-grade teacher. He graduated from Lemmon high school in 1955. After high school he worked for several farmers until he joined the army. He served in Korea. He married Carol Knispel November 4^th, 1961, in Greely, Colorado. Carol at that time was teaching 3^rd grade in Cheyenne Wyoming. The couple first bought a home in Mobridge South Dakota where Paul was employed as a welder on the bridge. They had two sons in Mobridge. Allen in 1963 and Bradley in 1965. While they lived in Mobridge, South Dakota.  

Paul left working construction and worked for various telephone companies over the years in several states including Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Missouri, and Texas before finally settling in Kansas City in 1974.  Paul retired from Sprint in 1997.

 After retiring Paul and Carol moved to a farm at Wakonda South Dakota. Paul built a new home and several other buildings. During the winter months, Paul and Carol, in their new RV, spent their time working for Mission America Placement Services (MAPS) as volunteer church builders. They helped to restore the Baptist church in Wakonda. Their favorite project was the winter they helped build the Aloha Church in Hawaii. 

Paul liked to restore antique farm equipment and tractors. He belonged to the Tri State Old Iron Club. He enjoyed their activities especially the long tractor rides with his Farmal Super H Tractor. His other greatest joy was spending his time and money on his two grandsons Wesley (born 1999) and Andrew (born 2001).

Paul is survived by his wife Carol and his two sons Allen Hansen and girlfriend Cindy of Leander Texas and Brad Hansen and wife Christy, of Overland Park Kansas, and two grandsons, Wesley, and Drew.  Drew recently graduated from Lake Area Tech in Watertown SD. Also, his two brothers Jens Hansen of Meadow South Dakota and his wife Marilyn, and Floyd Hansen and his wife Alice of Jefferson City Missouri, and his 2 nephews Craig Hansen and Keith Hansen of Jefferson City Missouri.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and father and mother in law, Bernard and Ida Knispel of Coure De Lane Idaho.

Paul was always willing to help others and had an abiding faith in God. Paul was also known for his sense of humor. Visitors to the Wakonda farm are always impressed with the “outhouse surprise”.