Obituary of Samuel Hansen

Samuel Hansen, 88, of Dowagiac, Michigan passed away at his home surrounded by family on Saturday, November 24, 2012. Samuel was born on February 2, 1924 to the late Samuel Hansen and Rosa Julia Marie Nielsen Rorby in Battle Creek, Michigan. He graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1942 and in 1951 from Ferris State University with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Samuel honorably served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a Sergeant in the 14th Air Force (China), in the Flying Tigers from 1942 to 1945. He was a 2nd Lt. in the ROTC at Michigan State University armored division from 1946 to 1953. On June 19, 1948 Samuel wed Marjorie C. Brockman in Detroit, Michigan. Along with his wife of 63 years, they have three daughters: Catharine (Tim) Niemi of Biwabik, Minnesota; Suzanne (Barry) Hague of Edwardsburg, Michigan; and Gayle (Steve) Neher of North Port, Florida. He has seven grandchildren Corey (Sybil) Hague, Cara Hague, David (Miriam) Niemi, Charles (Pamela) Niemi, Jeffery (Jenny) Niemi, Samuel Neher and Scott Neher. He has eleven great grandchildren: Brennan, Peyton, Wesley, Mason, Ella, Henry, Jesse, Elizabeth, Lucas, Kathleen and EmmaLee. Samuel has a surviving sister, Rosemary (John) Christenson of Marshfield, Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his siblings Irene Hansen, Marion (John) Beglin and Carl Hansen. Samuel owned Hansen's Drug Store from 1956 - 1978 in Cassopolis, Michigan. He was an active community member belonging to the Backus Lodge #55, the Cassopolis Exchange Club, the Niles Shrine Club, the Royal Order of Jesters, and Billikins of Pinellas County in Florida, Cozy Carvers, the Fruit Belt Woodcarvers, the Kalamazoo Valley Wood Carvers, the Les Cheneaux Yacht Club and the Les Cheneaux Lions Club. Samuel served in civic organizations: Supervisor Jefferson Township, Cassopolis Village Council, Cassopolis School Board, Cassopolis Intermediate School Board, Director First National Bank of Cassopolis, and a member of the Board of Directors on the Cass County Council of Aging. Samuel enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, wildlife, woodcarving, painting, reading American History, working in the kitchen at the COA, the cabin on Marquette Island in Cedarville, Michigan and Walking the Mackinac Bridge every Labor Day weekend. A celebration of Life will be at the Cass County Council of Aging, 60525 Decatur Road, Cassopolis, Michigan on Thursday, November 29, 2012, from 4p.m. to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cass County Council on Aging and the Shriners Children Hospital in Chicago (Niles Shrine Club) are appreciated. A service at Fort Custer, Augusta Michigan will be held at a later date.