John Erik Hansen

John Erik Hansen passed away December 1, 2020 after a long struggle with dementia. John was born August 16, 1930 the middle child of Niels and Emilie Hansen in Kenosha, WI. His parents were Danish immigrants who met here in the U.S. and married in 1925. He graduated from Mary D. Bradford High school in 1948 and married May Leander in 1950. John joined the Navy Reserves around that time and was called into active duty in 1952 during the Korean Conflict serving until 1954 in Guam. John and May had 4 children; Jeffrey John, born two months early on August 1, 1954, he died shortly after birth. April Lea (Burke) was born on August 2, 1955, Scott Albert was born on May 28, 1957 and Robin Gay (Walls) was born April 1, 1961. John attended college at the University of Wisconsin at Madison receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in January 1960 and continued his education obtaining his Master†™s Degree in January 1961. Throughout John†™s professional career, he worked for different companies using his experience in various industries. He was employed with such firms as Kraft Foods in Chicago (1962), Keebler Company in Denver (1969), and American Home Foods (producer of the Chef BoyArdee brand) in La Porte, IN, (1971). He taught at Purdue University in Indiana during his brief stay there. His last place of employment was with Johns-Manville (1995). John and May†™s were avid rockhounds active in the North Jeffco Gem and Mineral Club in Arvada, CO., as well as the Mile High Rock & Mineral Society (RAMS). This hobby would find them traveling from California to Virginia across the continental U.S., north to Montana and always to the high peaks of their beloved Colorado. They made many great friends hiking miles into the hills digging deep into the ground. Their most prized possession found residency at the Colorado School of Mines. It is a beautiful Amethyst crystal found here in the Colorado Rockies donated to the museum in 2010. John and May considered it the pride of their collection. John was also known for his kooky sense of humor. Much to his family†™s dismay, once they knew all of his one-liners fondly called †˜Johnisms†™, and were no longer chuckling, he was forever teasing and trying to get a laugh out of anyone he met on the street. He enjoyed life and his unique sense of humor kept his days colorful, even to the end. John will be remembered for his love of family that he demonstrated daily in taking care of them as well as others who crossed his path through the years. John was preceded in death by May in 2015. He leaves behind 11 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. Donations in his honor can be made to the charities of Doctors Without Borders and SmileTrain.