Kenneth H. Hansen 1922-2002

HANSEN, LANDIS, KRASKA

Posted By: Lori Clark (email)
Date: 10/10/2002 at 10:26:26

Kenneth H. Hansen, age 80 formerly of 2590 Auburn Hills Lane NE, Solon, died Sunday, June 30, 2002 at the Crestview Nursing and Rehab Center in West Branch following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 3, 2002 at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City with the Reverend Paul Akin officiating. Burial with military honors at the Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 5 to 7pm Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial donations can be made to ERG Research Lab through the Department of Ophthalmology University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service are caring for Ken’s services and his family.

Ken was born May 19, 1922, in Plainview, NE the son of Herbert and Bessie Hansen. He married Esther Kraska August 9, 1941, in Pocahontas, Iowa. He enlisted in the United State Army Air Corps in 1943. Upon discharge from the service in 1945 he started his optical career working for Sioux City Optical. In 1947, he moved to Iowa City and worked for Kelley Optical. In 1954 he started Hansen Ophthalic Development Laboratory where he designed and produced opththalmic instruments and devices based on the ideas and needs of University of Iowa Ophthalmologist. He also worked with Lee Allen to develop the Burian-Allen ERG bi-polar electrode, an instrument made exclusively by Ken, for which he dedicated his life to, and is still used to this day for eye research and diagnosis around the world. In 1962 he opened his own optical business, Hansen Opticians, which served the needs of Iowa City for over thirty years.

He was a member of the Iowa City Rotary.

His family includes a son and his wife, Gary and Kay Hansen of Solon, two daughters and their husbands, Pam and Dennis Jennings of Riverside, and Penny and Richard Hughes of Conrad; grandchildren, Tracy and her husband, David Burns, Jeff and his wife, Beth Hansen, Linda and her husband, Chris Young, Kim and her husband, Trey Martin, Christy and her husband, Brandon Kadner, and Mollie and her husband, Ben Sweeting; great grandchildren, Jessica and Alexia Hansen, Andrea and Bryce Young, Dylan Kadner, Kiah Martin, and Maggie and Paige Burns.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Esther in 1991; sister, Lorraine as an infant; son, Douglas in 1952, Granddaughter, Amy Jennings in 1983.