Kenneth (Ken) Parr Hanson passed away on Monday, January 27, 2025, at his home at Prairie Meadows Assistive Living Facility in Kasson, Minnesota. Ken was born near Fairmont, Minnesota on November 4, 1934, the eldest son of A. Kenneth and Lucille (Parr) Hanson. When he was a toddler, his parents moved to Iowa, residing in Forest City, Belmond, and Leland areas where his three siblings; James, Dennis, and LuAnn were born. Ken graduated high school in Forest City, Iowa in 1952. On February 7, 1953, Ken married Janice Gelner and had six children. In 1973, Ken married Barbara (Wulf) Said, and with that union came three bonus children, Gary, Debra, and Troy Said. Ken later met Janice (Bennett) Deffenbaugh, and they were married on December 28, 1991. Upon their marriage, Ken added David and Emily Deffenbaugh to his family.
The definition of an entrepreneur describes a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks to do so. This best depicts Ken’s life which encompassed such varied occupations: television antennae installer, farmer, milk truck driver, Ready-Mix cement plant owner, pre-fab home company owner, salesman, MAACO auto body repair shop owner, realtor, Texas rancher, restauranteur, hotel/motel owner/operator, cement company manager, directional boring company owner, and semi-truck owner/operator. Ken retired many times during his lifetime but always found something that he had not yet done, so he pursued another career! In fact, he called himself a “paid tourist” and delivered travel trailers and motorhomes across the country in his retirement years. During his life, Ken called several states home, including Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Indiana, and Illinois. Ken obtained his private pilot’s license and for many years, he took great enjoyment in flying, at one time owning a V-tail Bonanza.
Ken also enjoyed family camping trips. Camping adventures began with tent camping, moving to renovated school buses, and eventually to fifth-wheel campers, and motor homes. At the campsite, there was no shortage of fun, food, or good stories. Ken could always be counted on to have a remarkable story to share around the campfire! “Did I tell you about…” was always a precursor to a wonderful story! Exploring novel places was among Ken’s many interests. This wanderlust took him from coast to coast in the United States, to Australia, Norway, the Panama Canal, Hawaii, and the Caribbean among other destinations. He loved fishing trips to Minnesota, at his brother’s resort in northern Minnesota.
Ken was a lifelong learner and encouraged all his children to continue their education. He was an avid reader and often read two or three books all at the same time. His lifelong ambition was to author a book filled with the wisdom and knowledge he had gained over the years from his many varied experiences.
Surviving Ken, are his wife – Janice of Avilla, IN, his sister LuAnn Dalluge (Dick) and his children – Jan (Eugene) Weis of West Chester, OH, Jeannine (Douglas) Thompson, Byron, MN; Jerri (Steven) Spohn of Rochester, MN; Kenneth (Jean Langley) Hanson of Waukee, IA; Ronda (Richard) Morcomb of Lakeville, MN; and Ronald (Celeste Cox) Hanson of Eagan, MN. Bonus children include Gary (Julie) and Troy (Patti) Said and Debra (Todd) Thomas and their families, and David (Jennifer) Deffenbaugh (Fort Wayne, IN) and Emily Valle (Stephen) (Des Moines, IA). Ken’s family expanded to include 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren as well as numerous bonus-grandchildren and bonus-great-grandchildren. Ken was preceded in death by his parents and his two brothers.
A celebration of life will be held this spring with an interment at the Center Lutheran Cemetery in rural Lake Mills, IA. Schott Funeral Homes in Forest City is assisting the family.
If you’d like to send a card to the family, you can mail them to: Schott Funeral Homes %Ken Hanson Family, 505 North Clark St. Forest City, IA 50436.
schottfuneralhomes.com