OBITUARY Robert A. Hansen December 24, 1927 – January 1, 2019 Our Beloved Father, Robert Arlow Hansen, 91, went Home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 1, 2019, in Austin, Texas. Robert (Bob) was born in his family’s home in Sioux City, Iowa on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1927. He was the youngest of 6 children born to Harold & Anna Hansen, and was baptized into the Christian faith on January 22, 1928.
Dad’s early life included family moves to Wichita, Kansas in June, 1940. Dad was confirmed there in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. The family then moved to Kansas City, Kansas in 1941.
In KC, Dad’s family lived next door to and became good friends with Ed Asner and his family. Dad and Ed remained life-long friends! Dad attended summer school and graduated early from Wyandotte High School in August 1945, so that he, like his Dad and 3 older brothers, could join the military.
World War II had ended, but Dad proudly served his country. He was inducted into the Army on December 5, 1945 at age 17. After basic at Camp Roberts, CA, he was transferred to the US Army Air Forces which later became the US Air Force.
Dad helped set up a Flight Air Traffic Command school and flew as a Flight Traffic Clerk traveling to many countries around the world. He was honorably discharged on November 25, 1947. In fall 1948, Dad enrolled at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska.
It was there that he met the love of his life, Opal Marie Bollesen. Bob and Opal were married June 25, 1949 by Opal’s father, Pastor M.P. Bollesen, of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. From this Blessed union were 7 children – Vicki, Valeri, Rollin, Douglas, Shayne, Dwight & Sharilyn.
Dad graduated from Dana College in 1952. He devoted his life to education beginning as a teacher and librarian at Blair High School. When daughter, Valeri, lost vision in her left eye due to cancer of the retina at the age of 2, Dad pursued education of the blind.
In 1954, Dad took a teaching position at the Kansas State School for the Blind in Kansas City, KS where he taught History and Government. He also continued his education and graduated in 1964 with a Masters Degree in Special Education for the Visually Impaired from the University of Missouri at Kansas City. All while providing for his now family of 9!
In 1965, Dad became the principal at the Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School and moved the family to Vinton, Iowa. After a year, he became the Superintendent at IBSSS and served in that capacity through August 1969. Dad decided to continue his education and moved most of the family to Austin (2 oldest were in college) and enrolled in The University of Texas at Austin to work on his PhD.
In spring 1970, an opportunity opened up and Dad applied and was appointed Superintendent of the Texas School for the Blind, a position he held for 7 years. After some other management positions, Dad’s final position was as a guidance counselor at Del Valle Junior High, from which he retired in June 1994. Dad’s life was built around his Christian faith and his family.
He and Mom raised their family in the Lutheran Church, and both served many roles in the various churches where they were members. They also both enjoyed singing in the choir. It was very important to Dad and Mom that their children have a solid Christian foundation and know their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
For that, we will forever be thankful. We were truly Blessed that Dad was together with us on Christmas Eve 2018 to celebrate the Birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and Dad’s 91st Birthday. As was his life-long tradition, Dad enjoyed some of his Birthday/Christmas soup, and especially enjoyed time with his growing family.
Dad was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: Herschel, Al and Frank; sisters: Marjorie and Frances; son, Dwight, in 1973; Beloved wife, Opal, in 2001; and daughters, Valeri in 2015 and Sharilyn in 2018. Dad is survived by his children: Vicki Clark (Ben), of Georgetown, TX; Rollin Hansen (Jill), of Kyle, TX; Doug Hansen (Lori), of Austin, TX; and Shayne McWhorter (James), of Rockdale, TX. Grandchildren: Wendy Castellanos, James Turpin (Valerie), Ryan Murphy (Carlie), Stephanie Kruger (Dustin), Whitney Myers (Josh), Jeremy Hansen (Amber), Zachary Hansen (Julie), Brent Hansen (Meghan), Ashley Harvey and Katelyn Harvey.
Great-grandchildren: Beau, Braden, Teigan, Skyleigh, Brooklynn, Soren, Caylum, Kaila, Liam, Desmond, Hayleigh, Lilly, Carson, Bryson & Sawyer. And many other family members and friends! !
The family would like to thank Dad’s caregivers at Brookdale North Austin and Brookdale Hospice. Dad’s faith remained strong through the loss of his wife and 3 of his children. While we will always miss his love, strength, support, courage and spirit, we are comforted knowing he is whole again and Home with Jesus, Mom, Valeri, Dwight, and Sharilyn.
Until we meet again…. . Fly to Jesus, Dad!
Visitation with the family will be from 4:00-7:00pm on Monday, January 7, 2019 at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Blvd, Austin, Texas 78752. Funeral service will be held at 1:00pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at Faith Lutheran Church, 6600 Woodrow Ave, Austin, Texas 78757. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Faith Lutheran Church or the charity of your choice.
To share condolences with the family, please visit www. cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.
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