Robert "Bob" J Hansen

To access the funeral service for Bob, please click the following link: https://youtu.be/hlhmG1Fo3sc A private family funeral service for Robert “Bob” Hansen, 92, of Echo, will be held on Thursday, January 14, 2021. A public walk-through visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 13, at Sunset Funeral Home in Echo. Interment with military honors will take place at a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Robert “Bob” J. Hansen was born on November 23, 1928, on the family farm near Jasper, to Newton and Margaret (DeBates) Hansen. As a child, Bob moved with his family all over southwest Minnesota. He helped on the farm after completing country school. Bob was a proud Army veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, serving in the 439th Engineering Construction Battalion in Korea. On December 29, 1952, Bob was united in marriage to Evelyn Cauwels at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall. The couple enjoyed dancing and roller skating together. They made their home in Wood Lake for a time before moving to a farm near Echo, where they lived for 62 years. In addition to farming, Bob kept busy as a heavy machinery operator and mechanic for various companies around the area. He retired at the age of 62, but he could be found helping on the farm even until the Fall of 2020. Bob was an accomplished woodworker, having made projects for many family and friends. He also restored old furniture, such as trunks given to each of his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing, and hunting both elk and deer. During the winter, he could be found ice fishing and snow mobile racing. As a couple, Bob and Evelyn were members of 500 and Wist card clubs, and they took road trips to Colorado, Oklahoma, and Washington. Bob died on Friday, January 8, 2021, at Morningside Heights Care Center in Marshall. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Evelyn of Echo; children Wayne (Sharon) of Renville, Brenda (Jon) Barber of Echo, Brien (Terri) of Wood Lake, Celeste (Alan) Panitzke of Belview, Suzy (Bill) Dupont of Eden Priarie, Steve of Green Isle, Traci (Joel) Lafrentz of St. Cloud, and Ernie (Sharlie) of Good Thunder; 25 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren; siblings Jim of Bemidji, Jerry (Rose) of Alexandria, Larry (Gail) of Backus, and Judy Peterson of Olathe, KS; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Betty Stensrud, Beverly Kompelien, and Dean Hansen, and three grandchildren.