Eugene “Gene” H. Hansen, 73, of Oil City, Wis., passed away Monday, March 7, 2016, at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.
He was born March 28, 1942, to Arthur and Margaret (Fuenger) Hansen. He learned the art of farming from his parents on St. Mary’s Ridge, where they owned a farm. Later, he enlisted in the U.S. Army for a few years. When he returned, Gene bought a farm outside of Norwalk, on Ridgeville.
When Gene retired, he submerged himself in helping people through Alcoholics Anonymous. He opened his home in Oil City to help teach many men, women and children to break their obsession for alcohol and become happy, healthy and whole again in their life without alcohol.
Gene is survived by his wife, Dena Marie Hansen; they were married August 19, 2014.
He is also survived by his sons, Tom, Tim, Tony, Mike (Libby), John (Karen) and Pete (Nicole); his daughters, Susan (Fred) Keith and Peggy (Jerry) Laufenberg; his siblings, Richard (Linda) Hansen, Joe (Carolyn) Hansen, Ernest (Elaine) Hansen, Marie Wiedl, Caroline Pieper, Darlene (Jerry) Wedemeier, Joyce (Charles) Ziegler, Ann Schreier and Catherine (Charles) Neumann; Dena’s children, Tiffany Massia, Trisha Tyrell-Massia, Tyler Massia, Tristyn, Tanner and Trevor Hutchins; along with 24 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Mary Kay; an infant brother, Thomas; an infant sister, Mary; and his brothers-in-law, Gerald Schreier, Anthony Wiedl and Paul Pieper.
Following Gene’s wishes, there will not be a funeral service at this time. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Gene would want to share these words with everyone who reads this: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.”
The Torkelson Funeral Home of Ontario is assisting the family with arrangements.
