2025-03-03 11:30
Ronald Hans Hansen, age 92 died early Sunday morning February 23, 2025, at home with his wife, Eleanor, at his side after a battle with pneumonia and COPD.
Ron was born November 3, 1932, in a converted chicken coop in Two Rivers to Hans and Winifred Day Hansen. The family moved to the Custerdale units in Manitowoc as Ron’s father was working for the shipyard, building submarines.
Ron graduated from Lincoln High School in the class of 1950. A group of the class of 1950 boys met monthly until several years ago. In June of 1950, Ron, who was only 17 at the time, entered the U.S. Navy and went to Great Lakes Navel Training Station. One week later the Korean War began. He went to Bayonne, NJ to Disbursing School to work in payroll, which was his job his entire military career. He was stationed in Hawaii for 14 months and then Kwajlein in the Marshall Islands. This was the base for testing A-bombs. He returned to the U.S.A to NAS Alameda, CA. At 21 he was discharged in November 1953 and joined the Naval Reserves in December 1954.
Ron married the former Myrna K. Coleman on July 14, 1956, at. St Boniface Episcopal Church in Chilton. Ron returned to active duty in June of 1957. Ron and the family were stationed at Glenview, IL, Los Alamitos, CA, and Moline, IL.
In 1966 Ron took his discharge from the Navy and enlisted in the Air Force. The family was stationed in Minot AFB in North Dakota. When he received orders to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia in 1967 his wife and children returned to Manitowoc for one year. In 1968 Ron was sent to KI Sawyer AFB, MI and his family followed him. In 1972, he received orders to go to RAF Base Lakenheath in England and again his family followed him.
Ron retired from the armed forces in June 1974 with a total of 23 years of service. The family, now grown to 4 children, Gregory, Cheryl, Jeffrey, and Lisa, moved to Neenah where Ron worked for the Neenah School District and then Kimberly Clark from 1975-1982.
In 1983 Ron attended Fox Valley Tech and was hired by Kimberly Clark Aviation. Kimberly Clark Aviation became Midwest Express Airlines and Ron was one of the first hired by the new airline. When Midwest Express moved operations to Milwaukee in 1988, Ron retired again. Ron and Myrna sold their house and bought a 31 foot Airstream trailer. They went all around the United States plus summering in Wisconsin and wintering in Casa Grande, AZ. For 10 summers, Ron and Myrna worked for Hamilton Stores in Yellowstone National Park.
When Myrna was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, the couple moved to Manitowoc, where Myrna passed away on July 10, 2013.
On October 8, 2016, Ron married Eleanor Agnew at St. James Episcopal Church. The same church where Ron met both Myrna and Eleanor. Ron became father to Eleanor’s daughter, Deena Giriyappa. Ron and Eleanor went on many vacations to Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, and many places in the United States.
Ron was a 48 year member of the Barbershop Harmony Society and sang with Manitowoc and Appleton choruses, and on the international stage with the Phoenicians. Myrna said that if she died on a Tuesday night, Ron would walk right over her to get to rehearsal.
Ron had been on the vestry (governing board) of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Casa Grande, AZ, and St. James Episcopal Church in Manitowoc. He was a member of the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 731, and Eagles Aerie 706, all in Manitowoc. He was longtime President of The Retired Enlisted Association chapter 73 in Manitowoc until they disbanded. Ron enjoyed ham radio and was a member of the Lakeshore Amateur Radio Service Club. He delivered Meals on Wheels for years.
Ron is survived by his wife, Eleanor Agnew, and his children, Gregory (Lisa Ann) Hansen, Neenah; Cheryl (Berry) Shelton, Golden Canyon, AZ: Jeffrey (Kay) Hansen, Shawano; and Lisa Hansen (special friend Jim Baker), Menasha. He is also survived by grandsons, Brian (Crystal) Hansen, Neenah; Eric (Sara) Hansen, Fort Collins, CO; Wes and Wellington, Menasha. Two great grandchildren Cameron and Rowan Hansen, Neenah. He is survived by two brothers, Gerald, Manitowoc: Leonard, Appleton; plus, other relatives and friends.
Ron is now in heaven with his first wife, Myrna, daughter Deena, sister Beverly Bertucci and brothers Frederick and Richard.
After the service Ron will be laid to rest with military honors, with his wife Myrna, at Knollwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Ron requested donations be sent to the St. James Episcopal Church building fund.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family by visiting www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com.
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