Lyman Donald “Don” Hansen, of Wilson, KS, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 11, 2023, in Ellsworth, KS. He was born in Superior, Nebraska on February 1, 1943, to Lyman Harold Hansen and Janice Annetta (Liles) Hansen. He grew up on the family farm in Jewell County, Kansas.
Don married Edith Neal on September 1, 1963. They lived in many communities in Kansas as they pursued their careers in education but retired in Wilson. They were blessed with four children: Brad, Ellen, Jennifer, and Karen.
Don graduated from Montrose High School in 1961. He then went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, a Master’s in Education Administration, and Specialist in Education Management all from Fort Hays State University. Education was very important to him, and he was a teacher and superintendent of schools for many years. He ended his work career retiring from the Kansas Department of Corrections where he was able to further his educator role with the inmates.
Don was a proud member of the Ellsworth Masonic Lodge #146, where he served as the Master of the lodge five times. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed canning vegetables and researching the family genealogy clear back to 1400.
He is survived by his wife Edie of the home in Wilson; children: Brad (Darcy) Hansen of Ellsworth, Ellen (Jason) Bell of Kansas City, MO, Jennifer (Todd) Elsen of Hays, and Karen Hansen of Wilson; sister, Joni (E.D.) Law of Wilson, Kansas; brother-in-law, John Schrepfer of Green River, Wyoming; seven grandchildren: Madison, Bryna, Vanessa, Valerie, Cadence, Reagan, and Mavryck; two great-grandchildren, Zayia and Kaizley; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Claudene Ryden and Nelda Schrepfer.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., at the funeral home in Wilson. Inurnment will take place at Olive Hill Cemetery in Jewell County at a later date. There will be no visitation.
Memorials are suggested to Don Hansen Memorial fund for his grandchildren’s education and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 610 24th Street, Wilson, KS 67490.