Frederick P. Hansen

Frederick P. Hansen, 91, beloved husband of Phyllis S. Hansen (deceased) of East Hampton, died Sunday, Jan 05, 2020 at Middlesex Hospital with family by his side. He is best remembered for his great work ethic, sense of responsibility and duty, and for heeding the call to service for his nation, his community, and his church.

   Born Nov. 2, 1928, in Hartford, CT, he grew up in the Wilson section of Windsor on a small farm, the son of the late Peter Christian and Margaret (Rowell) Hansen. He attended John Fitch High School in Windsor, going on to earn his Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at UCONN, class of 1951. He is a Veteran of the Korean War, serving until May 1954 and achieving the rank of Corporal. Landing in Yokohama on the day of the Korean Armistice, he was sent north to serve in Sapporo, Japan on the island of Hokkaido. After discharge, he married Mabel Allen in 1954, the mother of his 4 children, making their home in Granby, CT. An active member of the Lost Acres Fire Department, he served on the Building and Truck committee. He served on the Granby Board of Tax Review, becoming Chair for a number of years, and on the Republican Town Committee. He was a Deacon of First Congregational Church of Granby. He married his second wife Joan Marshall in 1969, moving to Middle Haddam, buying and beginning the restoration process of a much loved historic home. Unexpectedly widowed in 1972, he considered it his good fortune to meet his 3rd wife, Phyllis, whom he wed in 1978. She helped him to finish restoring the home as they built a rich and loving life together. They were a perfect couple, becoming well-known in town as a couple who not only contributed many volunteer hours, but held many lively social gatherings including the highly anticipated annual Night Blooming Cereus Flower event held at their lovely gardened home. He built and maintained the beautiful flower beds, hummingbird and songbird feeders that graced their home, making it a great treat to visit them and sit in their secret garden patio. He retired from Nutmeg International Truck and Eastern CT Truck Sales in 1992 at the age of 74. He also sold fire trucks for Central States Fire Apparatus of South Dakota part time for 10 of his working years, delivering fire trucks across the country. One year a much younger companion got to go along to keep Fred from making a solo trip to South Dakota, and he delighted in the excitement of a cross-country ride in a real fire truck! He spent many hours as a volunteer at the Westbrook Tourist Information Center with his wife Phyllis. He was a member of the Republican Town Committee, the Belfry Club of Middle Haddam, and was an active and very involved member of the Second Congregational Church of Middle Haddam, a special church he was completely dedicated to. Living next door, he would often take the job of turning the AC, heat and lights on/off and could occasionally be seen mowing the grass early on a Sunday morning before churchgoers arrived. He loved the church meals, especially the annual Strawberry Shortcake Supper. His wise counsel on many church fundraising goals, building maintenance and restoration efforts were highly regarded. He was a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission in East Hampton for 22 years, serving as vice chairman and chairman for a number of years. It was his involvement in Rotary where he truly found a home and a cause to which he was committed. He was honored 3 times as a Paul Harris Fellow, was active in the Scholarship Committee, Old Home Day including the Car Raffle, and Breakfast with Santa. He loved the annual boat ride on the lake, numerous special event dinners and the camaraderie of an active service organization. He had perfect attendance for many, many years - he just loved his Rotary meetings and never wanted to miss them! His family is much comforted knowing how well loved and respected he was by his fellow Rotarians and his church family, and how they cared for him in his later years, assisting him in and out of buildings and helping him avoid lines by bringing his plates to him at his beloved church and Rotary meals. He was a wonderful father and grandfather, setting a great example for his family as someone to look up to.

   He leaves his son Jeffrey Allen Hansen of Richmond, VA, his daughter Margaret (Meg) Hansen Cooley (Ken) of Farmington, son-in-law Kurt Neumann of Granby, daughter-in-law Beryl Nelson of Meridian, ID, his most special friend, Rita Arnold, of East Hampton, and her children (Laura, Jim, Jackie and Regina). He also leaves 8 grandchildren, Sara Eggers (Gary) of Maumelle, AR, and Jennifer Zanelli (Troy) of Meridian, ID, Michele Rausch of Indianapolis, IN, Carly Santangelo (Aaron) of Cuba, NY, Amy Stukenholtz (Tyler) of Boise, ID, Ben Cooley of Farmington, Jonathan Whaley (Tess) of Milford and Llewelyne Arden of Lopez Island, WA, 13 great-grandchildren (Murielle, Amy, Danielle, Rebekah, Caden, Kenna, Jack, Owen, Cellan, Alex, Leighton, Hazel and Tobin), cousins George H. Nash and Nancy Nash, Ted, Walter and Roger Stevenson, sister-in-law Lois Longley, nephew Ed Longley and niece Susan Longley. He was predeceased by his 3 former wives, Phyllis Stedman Hansen, Joan Marshall Hansen, and Mabel Allen Taylor, his brother Howard Hansen, his daughter Lois Hansen Neumann, his son Gregory Peter Hansen, and a sweet infant grandson, Daniel Frederick Cooley.

   A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 11a.m. at the Second Congregational Church in Middle Haddam, with the Rev. James A. Simpson officiating. Burial will follow in Union Hill Cemetery in Middle Haddam. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Second Congregational Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 206, Middle Haddam, CT 06456.

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