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Leslie Allen Hansen

Leslie “Les” Allen Hansen, 89, was gathered to his Lord on Sunday, March 20, 2022 after a wonderfully full life. Les loved and served Jesus with all his being. On this earth, the absolute love of his life was Marge, his wife of 61 years.

Leslie Allen Hansen
Leslie Allen Hansen

Les was born in Fort Calhoun, NE in 1932, to Nels M. Hansen and Edna (Hanson) Hansen. When asked about the relationship between the “Hansons” and the “Hansens,” Marge said there was no relationship, “it’s just a Scandinavian thing.” Les grew up on a farm near Fort Calhoun until 1949, when the family moved to a farm near Turin, IA where he graduated from Castana Community School a year later. Les and his little sister Faye worked together on the family farms until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1952. He sailed two years on a ship that sailed to many ports worldwide on a “Goodwill Tour.”

After the Navy, Les earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Iowa State University in Ames, IA and later a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. His first job after college was with the Oliver Tractor Co. in Charles City, IA. It was there he met and married the beautiful and vivacious Marjorie Wamsley. They met at a community mixer for singles in Charles City.

Les and Marge built their first home in Charles City while Les worked at White Farm Equipment. Next they moved to Edina, MN with White Motor Co., then on to Libertyville, IL with International Harvester Co.

Les was baptized in the Fort Calhoun Presbyterian Church and faithfully followed Christ. His final church membership was at Arden Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Arden, NC. When he could no longer drive to his church, he consistently attended Faith Fellowship Church, the resident-established church on the campus of Ardenwoods Retirement Community.

Les was an avid student of the Bible. More than that, he was a 43-year member of The Gideons International donating time, talent, and treasure to help get the Word of God into the hands of people all over the world so they, too, could be followers of Christ and avid students of the Bible. He rarely missed a weekly prayer breakfast, or a monthly Camp meeting, or a monthly Cabinet meeting. If there was a Gideon function, Les Hansen was there.

Marge suffered a stroke in 2011 that left her with some brain damage and other physical impairments. Les became her primary caregiver, meeting her needs for years. He faithfully cared for her in their independent living apartment at Ardenwoods Retirement Community. She now resides in Heather Glen Assisted Living, an Ardenwoods facility where she is well cared for by staff and her mutually supportive fellow residents.

In addition to Marge, Les is survived by his sister, Faye (Bill) Allen of Mission, TX, along with her four children and ten grand children, Marge’s brother Vernon (Norma) Wamsley along with their three children and seven grand children.

Memorials in lieu of flowers in the name of Les Hansen would be welcome at the Asheville Camp of The Gideons International at PO Box 222, Skyland NC 28776.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Les Hansen will be held where he was a long-time member, Arden Presbyterian Church, 2215 Hendersonville Rd, Arden, NC 28704 on April 26, 2022, 3 p.m. The church will provide live streaming of the service, which can be accessed at www.ardenpres.org/live-webcast.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian in Arden, NC is assisting the family and a guest register is available online via Mr. Hansen’s obituary page at grocefuneralhome.com.

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