Richard H. Hansen
Milan, Illinois
September 14, 1932 – January 14, 2022
Richard H. Hansen
Obituary
Richard (Dick) H. Hansen, 89, Of Rock Island passed away Friday, January 14, 2022, at UnityPoint Health-Trinity, Rock Island. He was a lifelong resident of the city. Private burial will be Friday in Rock Island Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the Disabled American Veterans. Due to COVID-19, a Celebration of Life Gathering will be held at a later date. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Milan is assisting the family.
Richard was born September 14, 1932, on the Hansen family farm on Big Island (Milan, IL), a son of Henry Oler and Beulah Marie (Cheek) Hansen. He married Ruth Elaine Pitts August 8, 1959, raising a daughter together, and they enjoyed each other’s company for 62 years.
Richard was a 1951 graduate of Rock Island High School. He briefly attended the University of Illinois before being drafted into the US Army from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War, assigned to Fort Carson, CO. After military service, he attended Bradley University in Peoria, IL graduating in 1960 with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. He completed post-graduate studies at Northern Illinois University earning a master’s degree in Economics and later taught courses in economics at Saint Ambrose University, Davenport, IA.
In 1971 he was chosen by the State of Illinois to serve as a State Police Investigator, working primarily in the Department of Motor Vehicles. He served in this capacity for 20 years until his retirement from the State in 1992.
He remained actively involved in the family farm business his entire life. Upon retirement, he continued to be involved in numerous interests and acted as a licensing liaison for many local automobile dealerships. He was a proud member of the Fraternal Order of Police for more than 40 years, a 50+ year member of the Eureka Masonic Temple in Milan, IL and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization for nearly 70 years.
Surviving is his lifelong partner, Ruth Elaine; daughter Sheri (Tim) Downing, Bettendorf, IA; grandchildren, Heather (Josh) Hootman, Layton, UT and Michael Downing, Bettendorf, IA; siblings, John “Jack” Hansen, Rock Island, and Lois (Al) Kucala, Irvine, CA; sister-in-law Judy (John) Hansen, Rock Island; nieces Suzanne (Greg) Anderson, Rock Island and Kelly (Ray) Patchett, Palm Springs, CA; and nephews Chris (Brenda) Hansen, Milan, IL and Doug (Shara) Hansen, Morrison, CO.
Richard was preceded in death by his infant sister Beverly Louise and his parents. Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com