E. Kent Hansen

E. Kent Hansen, 75, of Bronson died Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at a local hospital from respiratory distress.
Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home in Sioux City, with Chaplain Neil Peck, CLS, officiating. Burial will be in Floyd Township Cemetery at Bronson. Visitation will be 3 to 6 p.m. today, with the family present 3 to 6 p.m., and a Masonic service at 5 p.m., at the funeral home.
Kent Hansen, son of Virgil and Carole (Cruikshank) Hansen, was born Nov. 2, 1939, in Waterloo, Iowa. Although Kent’s first name was Edward, his grandfather refused to call him “Eddie Hansen” because of a well-known bootlegger from Humboldt, who shared the same name. He attended country school in Humboldt, moved to Sergeant Bluff and lived in the U.S. Army barracks with his family before moving to Sioux City in 1952. He graduated from East High School in 1958.
On Aug. 27, 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Karen McNaughton, in Sioux City. Into this union, two daughters were born, Shelle and Stacy. Kent and Karen would have been married 50 years before her death in 2009.
Following high school, Kent attended Morningside College and studied business. He started selling insurance in 1961 at Murray Insurance and Morningside State Bank, and eventually became a partner at Murray Insurance. He sold Murray Insurance to Grandy Pratt in 1983 and finished his career at Arthur J. Gallagher.
Kent was a sports enthusiast. He played American Legion baseball and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, but decided to stay in Sioux City to start a family and career. He served as President of Sioux City Baseball Association. Kent started playing fast pitch softball in 1963 and played for several well-known teams, including Gibson Appliance, Park Bowl and Pittsburgh Paint. He won a state title in 1963 while playing third base for Gibson Appliance. He was inducted into the Iowa Men’s Fast Pitch Hall of Fame in 1986.
Kent joined the Abu Bekr Shrine in 1971, serving as Potentate in 1992. He joined the White Horse Mounted Patrol in 1973 and served as Captain in 1980-1981 and 1983. Kent and his white Arabian horse “Big Fella” rode in many famous parades, including the Cotton Bowl, Indianapolis 500, Cherry Blossom Festival, Kentucky Derby and Rose Bowl. He was a member of the Scottish Rite, Royal Order of Jesters, Morningside Masonic Lodge, and the Little Yellow Dog Auction Club, where he received the Lifetime Service Award. Kent and Karen also enjoyed being members of the Camper Unit.
Kent spent many enjoyable hours playing cribbage with Karen and gin with his friends at the White Horse Patrol club room, and was once dealt the perfect gin hand. He and Karen enjoyed camping with their family and friends, especially at Scenic Park. He was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan and enjoyed cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes, Sioux City Explorers and Morningside Mustang Softball.
Kent is survived by his daughters, Shelle and Mark Baldwin of Anthon, Iowa, and their children, Kyle and Jessica Baldwin, and their daughters Bristol and Bailee, Colt and Megan Baldwin, and Ross and Kallie Baldwin; Stacy and Jeff Bagby of Norwalk, Iowa, and their children, Eric and Lauren; sister and brother-in-law, Edee and Jim Boyer of McPherson, Kan.; several nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Karen; parents, Virgil and Carole; his grandparents, several aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Bronson Fire & Rescue Department, 104 Pine Street, Bronson, IA 51007.