Jerry Lane Hansen, 65, of West Jordan, passed away peacefully on Sunday April 2, 2017, in Murray, Utah, surrounded by his family. He was born June 25, 1951, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the son of Jerry and Helen DeLaney Hansen. He is survived by his sweetheart of 48 years, Colleen Rossi Hansen; their children Angela (Chris) Haram, Andrea Coy, Jeremy (Sarah) Hansen, Aaron (Kalli) Hansen, Chelsie Hansen and Hannah Hansen; 8 grandchildren and one more on the way; 2 sisters, Chris (Kent) Wiseman and Robin (Doug) Buckley and his brother Mark Hansen; and many extended family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents.
He was the second child of 4; Chris, Lane, Mark and Robin. He grew up in in Midvale, Utah where most of his childhood memories were made. He grew up playing baseball. He was a great shortstop and pitcher, helping one of his little league teams make it to the State Championship Game. He was always getting into trouble around the neighborhood with friends. One time, he and his friend, Mike Anderson, filled a metal fence post with the concrete still stuck to it with gun powder, rocks and whatever else they could find. They propped it up in a fire they had built and it exploded, sending the concrete bottom flying towards the mink farm and crashing through a coop ceiling. Lane said it was about a block away. Somehow, he and Mike made it out without being caught!
He attended Murray and Midvale elementary schools, West Jordan Middle and Hillcrest High School. He met his wife when they were in 9th grade. He was friends with her brother who brought him over one day and Colleen tells us this is when their love story began. In his high school years he spent most of his free time working on his cars and motorcycles with many of his lifelong friends. He was the one who taught his wife how to drive a stick shift in a GMC in the church parking lot. He tried to get her to do donuts in the snow, but she refused. Colleen said he was very patient with her.
In 1975 they moved into his wife's childhood home, which became our family home for nearly 30 years. This home is where his children and grandchildren made many life long memories with him. The backyard went through many transformations as we grew up, like him building his kids their basketball court and building a fire pit for us to roast marshmallows and hot dogs. We celebrated holidays, birthdays and had family parties and BBQ's here over the years. He was always the designated cook because if we didn't let him do it, it would have been done wrong.
He was a plumber by trade but really his name should have been Jack, he was a "Jack of all trades." He had an amazing talent of knowing something about everything. If there was anything to be built or repaired he was the one to ask, he could do it all. He always had multiple projects going at one time, especially with his many cars. Even with the garage out front and the one he built out back, there was never enough space for all of them. He had a blue 40 ford that was one of his favorites because it reminded him of a green one he had in his younger days that he would hot rod around in. He even allowed Jeremy and Aaron to play in it as long as they followed the rules; don't slam the doors and don't monkey with anything. Because family always came first, he ended up having to sell it before he was able to restore it. He also had a love for fishing and boating that came from sharing these hobbies with his father. He enjoyed many fishing adventures with his friends, kids and grandkids.
He was always willing and wanted to help anyone with anything, like repairing cars, working on houses or even if someone needed extra cash. However, he would never ask for any favor in return. I think anyone would tell you how selfless of a man he was. Recently he had noticed he was missing radiators and batteries from his shop. He had asked around the neighborhood and eventually the father of the kid who had stolen these things from him made him come and apologize. Instead of calling the police, like most people would, he told the kid if he needed money in the future he could come down and work around the shop to earn the money. In the end the kid kept a watch on his shop for him and would let him know if any suspicious activity was going on.
He was able to spend the last two years of his life living with his 3 youngest grand boys, Xzavior, Adler and Liam. The four of them grew very close and each formed a very special bond. He was very grateful to have them around; it kept him healthier longer and brought him much joy. Every morning Liam would wake, he would go upstairs, Lane would turn the TV to what Liam called the baby station and they would watch cartoons all morning long. Together they became great couch potato buddies! Lane is going to be greatly missed by his entire family and friends. We love you.
Memorial services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m., Saturday April 8, 2017, at Larkin Mortuary, 3688 West 12600 South, Riverton, Utah. A visitation will begin one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow in the West Jordan Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at: www.larkincares.com
