Charles Leroy Hansen

Charles Leroy Hansen February 2, 1924 - February 26, 2012 Charles Leroy Hansen of Chilton passed away Sunday, February 26, 2012, at Hillcrest Hospital. Services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 28, at Cottonwood Baptist Church with the Rev. Craig Godby officiating. Burial will follow at Cottonwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, February 27, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Charles was born February 2, 1924, in Cottonwood, Texas, to Christian and Hulda Hansen. On June 2, 1944, he married the love of his life, Jocelyn Rueter, and from December 1944 to August 1946, he served in World War II in the Philippines. He engaged in farming in Falls County from 1946 until his death and was one of the pioneers of the Narrow Row Cropping System in the 1970's. Charles has been a lifelong member of the Cottonwood Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon, Trustee and Sunday School Clerk. Charles loved his Church, where he faithfully served his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He also served on the Lorena School Board, the Board of Directors of the McLennan County Farm Bureau, Texas Land Bank and Levi Water Board for many years. In the 1950's he helped organize the Cottonwood Softball team and was manager/player. Charles was an avid 84 player, and in his younger years, he loved fishing for speckled trout in the Corpus Christi Bay with the late Ed Gummelt and other friends. In everything he did, he was a fierce competitor and gave it his all. Family was very important to Charles, as he loved getting together with his wife, children, grand children and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Christian and Hulda Hansen; sister, Viola Kramer; brothers, Christian, Ralph and Arthur Hansen, killed in action in World War II; and his son-in-law, John Roy Zajicek. He is survived by his wife, Jocelyn Hansen of Chilton; three daughters, Naomi Arnold and husband, Kenny, of Buckholts, TX, Charlotte Sadler and husband, Jerry, of Weatherford, TX, Connie Hansen of Albuquerque, NM; one son, Art Hansen and wife, Tam, Lorena; brother, Vernon A. Hansen and wife, Bobbie, Lorena; seven grandchildren, Crystal Tait and husband, Jeffrey, Brandon Sadler and wife, Amber, Leslie Calcote and husband, Bernie, Taylar Hansen and wife, Korrey, Dakota Hansen and friend, Mandi Clark, Leigh Barrington and husband, Justin, and Justin Hansen and wife, Brittany; eight great-grandchildren, Brooke, Brock, Blayde and Bailee Jo Tait, Jordan and Wyatt Sadler, Boston Calcote and Haven Hansen. Pallbearers are Justin Hansen, Taylar Hansen, Dakota Hansen, Brandon Sadler, Jeffrey Tait, Justin Barrington and Clemente Salas. Memorials may be made to Cottonwood Outreach Ministries on behalf of missionaries, Mary Anne and Colby Cessnun, P. O. Box 85, Lorena, TX 76655. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.