John W. Hansen

John W. Hansen – Passed away peacefully on March 4, 2023 at AngelsGrace Hospice following a long illness; surrounded by loving family and dear friends.

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 6, 1942, he lived in the Milwaukee area and for a short time in Minneapolis, MN. He was a resident of the Town of Delafield for the last 49 years.
John was a proud member of the U.S. Air Force (1961-1965), serving in Texas, Michigan, England, and Turkey. He was a member of the American Legion, Post 196 in Delafield. John was a professional stagehand and a proud union member of I.A.T.S.E., Local 18. In 1968, John worked on the films “Gaily, Gaily” and “Winning.” Among the many other venues he worked at were the Performing Arts Center, the Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Stackner Cabaret. For years he worked the Wisconsin State Fair and Summerfest plus the summer ethnic festivals in Milwaukee. In one summer, he could work the sound for 100’s of groups. He received his 50-year gold card in 2017. For 20 years, John was Santa Himself to the delight of children and adults in the Milwaukee and Waukesha County areas and Sister Bay in Door County and at St. Mary’s by the Lake in Racine County.

John loved to travel. He went to Costa Rica for an International Theater Festival with the Milwaukee Rep. With his wife Barbara, he traveled to Great Britain, Amsterdam, Brussels and down the Rhine, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies, Scandinavia and St. Petersburg, Tahiti, Moorea and New Zealand, Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe (walked with the lions) and Botswana, Eastern Europe, Poland, Hungry, Czech Republic and Austria. Also Las Vegas and California, Northwest America and Alaskan Cruise, Orlando, Fort Myers and Naples Florida, Door County, Kelly Lake, St. Germain, Eau Claire, Janesville, and other points in WI. He never refused a chance for adventure.

John was an avid reader of science fiction particularly Isaac Asimov and crime/murder/thriller mysteries. He had an extensive collection of over 300 Santa collectibles. John was a Tennessee Squire and liked his “Jack Daniels” to the end.

John is survived by his loving wife of 53 years Barbara (nee Ciepluch) and precious son Christopher. Brother-in-law to David (Anne) Ciepluch, Susan (the late Terry) Thompson, Mary Jean (Keith) Stein, and Judithe (Jerry) Wensinger. Beloved uncle to Debbie (Todd) Hansley, Shari (the late Dan) Yinger, Wendy (Jamie) Bull, Abby (Erich) Schnappup, Jeremy (Megan) Ciepluch, Heather (Jesse) Warner, Col. Israel (Meredith), Titus (Katie), Mara, Noah, and Tess Thompson, Gjeret (Cari) and Shanna Stein. Caring Granduncle to Ashley (Brayden) Burnett, Nikki (Cameron) Stephens, Joseph Hansley, Mitch (Brittany), Max (Allyssa), Tucker, Drake, and Tess Yinger, Austin, Connor, and Andrew Bull, Tyler Ciepluch, Ava, Chloe, and Emmett Schnappup, Kaela (Zack) Mick, Allie, Josh, and Moana Warner, Drew and Sam Thompson, Maggie, Clare, Grace, and Eleanor Thompson, Sonja, Gwen and Magnus Stein. Fond Great-Granduncle of Walker, Nora, and Beau Burnett, Lawson Stephens, Blake and Bodhi Yinger. Also survived by cousins Gail Cordry, Joan Sayre and Chuck Tatge. Further survived by other family and dear friends.

Preceded in death by father Raymond F. Hansen and mother Alice D. (Gabrielson Hansen) McKeehan, brother James and sister Judith.

Mass of Christian Burial at St. Anthony 0n the Lake Catholic Church, W280N2101 Prospect Avenue, Pewaukee, WI, on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 11:00 AM. Visitation at church from 9:00 AM until 10:45 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to St. Coletta’s of Wisconsin, N4637 County Road Y, Jefferson, WI 53549; Donna Lexa Art Centers, 247 Wisconsin Avenue, Waukesha, WI 53186 or a charity of your choice.