Kenneth E. "Ken" Hansen

Funeral Services for Kenneth E. “Ken” Hansen, 75, Norfolk, will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 21, 2020 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk.  Reverend Randy Rasmussen will officiate.  Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery south of McLean   Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday at the Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue.  Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

Ken went to be with his family and savior in Heaven on Monday, February 17, 2020 at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Omaha, following complications after a recent heart surgery

Kenneth Edward was born April 22, 1944 in Norfolk to Elmer and Luetta (Kierstead) Hansen.  He shared his birthday with his mother and they celebrated it together for many years. 

Ken lived in Norfolk with his mother and older brother, Ted, while his father served in the U.S. Army.  When Ken was only eight months old, his father was killed in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium. 

On January 18, 1947, his mother married Clarence Wessel of Osmond and they moved to a farm south of Randolph which remained the family home until 1993.  To this union, two other brothers were born Clarence Wessel, Jr. and Lauren Wessel. 

Ken attended a country school from first to eighth grade.  He then attended Randolph High and graduated in 1962.  He furthered his education at Wayne State College for three years, before entering the Management Training Program with Hesteds, Newberry and McCrory Company for the next eighteen years.  He served in Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and transferred back to the McCrory store in Norfolk.

When the store closed, he chose to remain in Nebraska and took a position with Nebraska Sports until his retirement.

On January 18, 1964, he married Janice Kay Biggerstaff in Wayne.  To this marriage, three children were born:  Brenda, Jeffrey, and Michael.  After eighteen years of marriage, they divorced and Ken married Marlene Anderson. 

On August 31, 1991, he married Susan Taylor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Norfolk.  Ken gained three stepsons:  Scott, Craig and David.  Together they were dedicated members of St. John’s for many years of service and in many capacities.  Ken was an avid gun owner and was a member of the Northeast Nebraska Gun Club Association for several years.  He also had a love for music and was a member of the Norfolk Men’s Chorus for many years and sang in the church choir at St. John’s Church for over thirty years.

He is survived by his wife of twenty eight years, Susan, daughter Brenda (Mike) of Hoskins, sons Jeff of Lincoln and Mike (Sandra) of Omaha, brothers Ted (Lavonne) of Grand Island, Clarence, Jr. of Florida, and Lauren (Val) of Randolph, grandchildren Amber Sparks of Wayne, Tim Sparks of Norfolk, Cristen (Brendan) Janssen of Norfolk, Jeremy Hansen of Lincoln, Nichole (Nate) Spangler of Iowa, six great grandchildren, step sons Scott (Debbie) Taylor of Pierce, Craig (Sue) Taylor of Pierce, and David (Tara) Taylor of Wisner, step grandchildren Erin, Emily, Braden, Kaleb, Jackie, Keah, and Kyla, five great step grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and great grandparents.

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