Philip M. Hansen

FOREST CITY - Philip M. Hansen, age 87 of Forest City, died Wednesday, December 30, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Forest City.



Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, January 4, 2010 at the United Methodist Church in Forest City with Pastor Jerald Swanberg officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City.



Visitation will be from 4 to 8 PM on Sunday, January 3, 2010 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home 505 N Clark Street in Forest City and will continue an hour prior to service at the church.



Philip M. Hansen was born on October 16, 1922 in Forest City, Iowa, the son of Peter H. and Caroline Louise (Anderson) Hansen. He received his education in Forest City and graduated from Forest City High School in 1940. He continued his education at Waldorf College in Forest City, graduating in 1942.



After Waldorf College, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps and entered Meteorology Cadet School, receiving his commission as a Lieutenant in 1943. He held the position of Army Airforce Meteorologist and was honorably discharged as a Captain.



Following his discharge he returned to college at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and graduated with a BS in Engineering. He then worked for a season in Alaska surveying for an international airport.



In 1950 he returned to Iowa to the family business and the mechanical engineering contracting business. He was a Registered Professional Engineer in Mechanical Engineering.



He was married to Mary Elwood on July 17, 1954 in Mankato, Minnesota. In 1972, Phil purchased the family business, WC Hansen & Son Hardware, a 3rd generation business with over 100 years of service. Phil was active in his community. He served as President of the Chamber of Commerce in 1981 and was a member of the Forest City Volunteer Fire Department.



Phil loved working and planned on never retiring. He enjoyed his grandchildren and loved sharing his wisdom with them.



He is survived by his wife Mary of Forest City and four children: William Clark Hansen and wife Marty of Forest City; Margaret Hansen and husband Steve of Parkland, Florida; Kelly Lille and husband Rick of Forest City and Heidi Hansen of Forest City. Also surviving are six grandchildren: Tia Hansen, Britt Hansen and Ali Hansen; Abby Runneberg and Tyler Runneberg and Simon Olivares. A brother, Bob Hansen and wife Shirley of Forest City and sister Marjorie Crum and husband Jack of Monteray, Tennessee.



Phil was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Bill and a grandson, Nicklaus.