Duane Allen Hansen

Born May 4, 1921, the fourth child to Earl Hansen and Hazel (Wilson) Hanson, in Wagner, So. Dakota. Duane died peacefully at the age of 91 on April 24, 2013. His father died when he was 5 years old. His mother had to go out of Wagner to find work in a larger town, so Duane and his siblings lived with different family members. He grew up in Wagner and attended the schools there.

In high school Duane was elected President of his Junior class and Vice President of his Senior class. During his high school years he played Baritone in the marching band. He thoroughly enjoyed singing in the school choir and the quartet. Duane was a member of the Wagner boy scouts and became an eagle scout. When graduating from high school he was awarded a scholarship to an Iowa college to study music. He decided instead to go to the University of South Dakota to study Accounting.

He met his beloved wife Doris while both were attending the University of South Dakota. He was president of the Delta Sigma Pi and Delta Sigma Theta fraternities at the University. During his college days he enjoyed singing in the University chorus and the Vermillion Methodist Church. Upon graduating he was sent to Ft. Benning, Georgia to continue his training in ROTC. Here he earned his Second Lieutenant rank in the Army. His accounting studies aided him in being selected to serve in the Headquarters, Armed Forces Middle Pacific, at Hawaii during the balance of WWII. He was awarded the Bronze Star and was discharged honorably as a Captain.

Duane was employed as an auditor for 32 years by the Franchise Tax Board, during which he earned his certificate as a Cerified Public Accountant. In retirement he had enjoyed membership in the Son in Retirement (SIRS) and membership in the Country Club Aires, an all male volunteer chorus. He was a Director of the chorus for five years, and during this time he developed a quartet from that membership. Duane and Doris have been members and officers of several ballroom dance clubs. They both have enjoyed reasonably good health and were fortunate to travel throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Alaska to Point Barrow, Hawaii and Turkey.

He married his college sweet-heart Doris in June 1943. They have enjoyed nearly 70 years together. He is survived by his loving wife Doris, Son Douglas (wife Jan, grandaughter Brittany and husband Aaron Sutherland, great granddaughter Chloe), daughter Donna (husband Don Upchurch), son David (wife Susan and grandsons Chris and Alex), many nieces and nephews and cousins. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Betty Duvall, Mary Fornia and Shirley Fornia. He was preceded in death by his parent , two sisters and brother.

Duane has always been very proud of his home state South Dakota, and pleased to be counted among those of the Greatest Generation. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 2100 J Street, Sacramento, CA on May 17th, 2013 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers any donations may be made in his name to the First United Methodist Church Sound System.