Donald Guy Hansen, lovingly known to his family and many others as "Papa", age 84 of Waupaca passed away on Tuesday, June 6th, 2023.

Don was born on June 28th, 1938 in Chicago IL, son of Henry Hansen and Amy (Barrington) Hidde. Don had 2 younger brothers: Richard "Dick" Hansen and Clyde "Chuck" Hansen. After separating from Henry, his mother Amy moved herself and the three boys to the town of Lind Center in Waupaca, WI. and resided on the Barrington family farm with his maternal grandfather, until moving to New London, WI. At the age of 16, Don left Wisconsin and spent an entire summer on a salmon fishing boat in Alaska where he could earn money for himself and his family. Until the day he passed away, when asked if he wanted to eat salmon, he would respond with: "don't care for it that much." Upon returning to Wisconsin, he graduated from New London high school in 1956. Don married Nancy Wilhelm, of Iola, WI. on November 21st, 1959; the opening day of gun deer-hunting season in Wisconsin that year! Don would continue the tradition of hunting that day through his lifetime, only missing this when he was too sick from his chemotherapy treatments later in life. Don and Nancy had two daughters: Marie born on January 28th, 1960 and Cheryl born on April 5th, 1966. Don and Nancy divorced in 1972.

Don was an avid outdoors man and worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for many years before taking different supervisor and leadership roles at various Paper Mills in the Fox Valley. In 1977, Don became head of the Shipping and Receiving Department at OMC Trade Winds in Manawa, WI. until he retired in 1993 from there. Don didn't stay in retirement for long as he went to work for his brother Richard Hansen as a dispatcher for his long-haul trucking company: Double Down. After some time there, Don helped his daughter Cheryl at her transit company Crossroads Transit before dispatching for independent owner/ operators out of his home in Pine River, WI. Don loved the trucking industry and talking to so many different people in different parts of the U.S. Don devoted his life to his children, grandchildren, work, and outdoor activities such as duck-hunting and deer hunting (both gun and bow seasons). In the early 1990's Don would take hunting trips out to Wyoming with Gary and Louie Winters. He loved those hunting trips and would reminisce about them often. He hunted the same land for over 40 years, first with Gary and Louie and later in life with his grandson-in-law, Adam Pankow and good friend, Travis Pomeroy. In November 2022, Adam took Papa on what would be his last hunting trip and Don had to 'show Adam how it's done' and shot a buck on opening day.

Don loved his grandchildren dearly. When they were little, Don was the primary babysitter. When his grandchildren stayed with Papa on the weekends would eat a nutritious meal of canned squirt cheese and saltine crackers while staying up late at night and watch TV Land. As they aged, he would chauffeur the grandkids and their friends around in his Suburban to many different sporting events, like Waupaca Comets football games and loved to introduce his grandkids to a new Supper Club for Wednesday night dinners or Friday night fish fry. He was proud to help all his grandkids, but always strong in both reading and math himself, he was most proud to help his granddaughter become a first-generation college grad in the family, never having the opportunity to go himself. Don always told his kids and grandkids he was a phone call away—he always lived up to that promise.

Don loved animals and had many throughout his life. He particularly loved two orange kitties: Ceasar and Brutus.

Don had a strong work ethic, big heart, and lived his life his own way. A fighter until the end, he is a three-time cancer survivor, with his first diagnosis in 2017 (??). After a courageous fight, he went in to remission in 2018 and 2019, before the cancer came back in 2023 and ultimately contributed to his decline.

Don is survived by his brother Richard (Linda) Hansen of Hortonville, WI.; his two daughters: Marie (Ron) Schultz of New London, WI.; Cheryl (Reuben Tetzlaff) Winters, Iola, WI.; Grandson Joshua (Sarah) Schmitt, New London, WI.; three granddaughters: Felica (Adam Pankow) Winters, Waupaca, WI,; Sheena (special friend Mike Marose) Winters, Appleton, WI.; Corina Winters, Waupaca, WI.; Great grandchildren: Layla and Kyverson Schmitt; Great step-grandchildren: Kylah and Kaylyn Smith; Many Nieces and Nephews: Jacci ( Randy) Helser, Winchester, WI.; Chris (Tim) Dohrman, New London, WI.; Dan (Marie) Hansen, Appleton, WI.; Julie (Scott) Hill, New London, WI.; Tom Christian, New London, WI.; Tina (finance Tim Diedrich) Christian, Hortenville, WI.; Toni (Blaise) Peters, Wrighstown, WI.; Sam (special friend Cathy Spiegelberg) Barry, Weyauweag, WI.; Nick Hansen and son Merrik Hansen, New London, WI.; the mother of his children, Nancy (Wayne) Handrich, Park Falls, WI.; special friends Kristine (Brandon) Leschke, Weyauwega, WI.

Don is proceeded in death by his parents: Henry Hansen, Chicago, IL. and Amy (stepdad Warren) Hidde, Waupaca, WI.; brother Clyde (Chuck) Hansen, Hortonville, WI.; Travis Pomeroy, Waupaca, WI. (formerly of Manawa, WI.); Former in-laws, Hubert and Margaret Wilhelm, Waupaca, WI. and his grandparents, extended family, many old friends, and his beloved cats Ceasar and Brutus.

At Don's request there will be no funeral services. The family has arranged for a Celebration of Life at Adam and Felica's home: E3202 Cross Rd. Waupaca, WI. for Saturday, June 17th from 1 – 5 pm. A BBQ style lunch will be served. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established.

At this time the family would like to send their deepest and sincerest thank you to Kristi Leschke, Don's Healthcare POA for helping assist the family through this difficult time as well as her husband Brandon. Your support and kindness could never be surpassed. As well as a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Theda Care Medical Center in Waupaca.

Don't cry for me,

Don't shed a tear,

For the time I shared with you will always be.

And when I'm gone, please carry on,

Don't cry for me.