Joseph Hansen

The family of Joseph Gerald Hansen announces his passing from complications from COVID at the age of 72 on September 29th, 2021, at Northeast Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He was the fourth of sixth children born to Ivan Jack and Marilyn Hansen on December 9th, 1948, in the idyllic town of Deer Lodge, Montana where his love of playing sports developed early. Joe attended Montana State University. He graduated in 1979 with a B.S. in Aeronautical Studies from the Daytona Beach, Florida Campus of Embry Riddle. After college, Joe entered the Army and became an airplane and helicopter pilot. As a Vietnam Vet, he spent time in Thailand and Germany. He retired from the military and then reentered after September 11th to fly again in Operation Enduring Freedom. His many awards included the Bronze Star but his most prized was The Broken Wing Award for which his lifelong best friend Dave Barber of Las Vegas nominated him after a heroic fixed wing emergency landing in a rice paddy in 4 Corp, Vietnam. The brutal winters of his beloved Montana were traded for San Antonio’s balmy climate when he retired from the military after thirty years of service with his final rank CW4 (Chief Warrant Officer). He found a special group of friends at La Plaza Apartments in San Antonio where they bonded over their love of tennis. He was later the self- employed owner of Perma Ceram, a bathtub and countertop resurfacing company which later grew into Total Tub Solutions, a bathroom remodeling company making life easier for older adults and persons with disabilities. Joe had a unique ability to spot bargains and spent much of his spare time honing this skill at various Good Will Stores and Pawn Shops. He was a man of faith and regularly attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Selma where he was active in the Military Ministry, the Saturday Morning Rosary Group, and That Man is You. He enjoyed spending time at the Wendy’s on Nacogdoches and Loop 1604 where he mentored many young people and considered the managers among his many friends.

He is survived by Beth (maiden name Stensrud) his wife of twenty-six years, their daughter Shona Marie of Northglenn, Colorado, brother Bill and wife Jerri who summer in Wyoming and winter in Arizona, sister Leslie Johnston of Missoula, Montana, sister Jan Stone and husband Ken of Missoula, Montana, and 13 nephews and 5 nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents Ivan Jack and Marilyn Coughlin Hansen and brothers John and Hal and his wife Mary Anne. And brother-in-law Cam Johnston.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 16 ^th from 10:00AM to 12:00PM at Schertz Funeral Home with a Rosary being recited at 11:00 AM. A Funeral Service and Mass will be held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Selma at 11:00 AM on November 24 ^th followed by a private Committal of Ashes ceremony with full military honors to be held at Fort Sam Houston.

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