Eugene Taufer Hansen

1925 ~ 2021

Obituary Photo for Eugene Taufer Hansen < >

Service:

Dec. 4, 2021
12:00 PM
1342 East 500 South, Salt Lake City, Utah

Eugene Taufer Hansen: Gene, Gene-o, Grampa Gene

Born August 10, 1925, on Elizabeth Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. Returned home on November 27, 2021. He died at home of old age, having worn out his body—that was his goal. He wanted to be of use to someone to the very end!

Gene is survived by his younger brother, Jim Hansen and 3 of Dot and Gene’s children: Anne Brasher (Larry), Cathy Cheatham (Tracy) and Tom Hansen (Cheryl). Betty Hansen returned home 23 years ago.
Gene married Dot in December 1949. Dot and Gene also have 25 Grandchildren, 59 Great grand children, and 11 Great Great Grand children

He graduated from West High School in Salt Lake City. He was privileged to be part of the ROTC program during the depression. The government provided uniforms for the boys to wear to school, 4 days a week. He attended the U of U for a quarter

Desirous of being a Marine, when Gene received his draft notice, unopened, he enlisted. He was 19 years old when he landed on the beach at Iwo Jima. He was a sergeant in the V division, Military Intelligence unit. Also, He stated that technically he was the first boots on the ground in Sasebo, Japan, during the occupation. Sasebo is half way between Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He was also part of the unit that secured the island of Peleliu.

Gene was a shift worker for Chevron Oil at the refinery in North Salt Lake for 33 years. He retired as a shift foreman

Gene was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; working in scouts, always something with the youth, and as Bishop of the North 33rd Ward. Dot and Gene served a full time mission to Johannesburg, South Africa. They served 2 church service missions in Membership and Finance in Salt Lake City. They retired to Leeds, Utah where Gene served as the Executive Secretary to 4 Stake Presidents.

In 2001 Gene moved to Lincoln, California to work on the ranch.

Tom said: “Much of the man I am today is a direct result of his influence in my life. Younger, as most small boys, my Dad was my idol, my hero. I wanted to be just like him; later as my example and my mentor. But, even more than that, Dad was my best friend. He taught me the value of hard work and a job well done and of going the extra mile and always giving your best.

“Dad lived his life with a servant’s heart, a life filled with the service to others. I can’t remember how many roofs we put on for people who could not do for themselves, how many walks we shoveled, how many lawns we cut and how many people we help move. One of his favorite sayings was “Isn’t amazing what can be accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit”. I was grateful to have that amazing example.

“My Dad worked shift work for most of his working life, and had a “long change”, 5 days off, once a month or so as shifts and days off overlapped. During these breaks we literally explored every road in Utah, traveled and camped. He instilled in me a need/desire to explore the unknown and gave me a profound love of nature and the out of doors: times spent running the rivers in rafts, running Desolation Canyon in canoes, camping in Yellowstone or hunting in Heber, hiking Mt Baldy or Mt Timpanogos to the summit. We spent hours together in the Uintah Mountains cutting firewood to sell. Free labor for me, but amazing hours spent working side by side.

“Later, I got to see a more tender side of Dad as he became care giver for my Mom before we lost her to cancer. I was honored, to get to repay him, alongside others in my family, taking care of him during his final days.

“If the measure of a man is the way kids treat him and vice versa, then Dad fulfilled that measure as well. Surrounded and loved by children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren to the end. The last I love you and goodbye wave he gave was to a 3 year old.

“My faith assures me that he is in a place where there is no more pain or infirmity, where he is reunited, after being alone for 24 years, with his sweetheart and his daughter Betty along with countless friends, family and loved ones.

We have heard from so many this week that have expressed that Gene was like a second father, or grandfather, helped them straightened out their lives, dropped everything to come. His influence was felt far and wide. He was a simple man, who loved others. He noticed everything and everyone. If he saw a need, he just did it.

“Good-Bye Papa Bear. Know that you are loved and missed. And, while you are gone for now, you will never be forgotten.

A memorial service will be held at the Lincoln 1st Ward in Sacramento, California, on December 2, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time (US and Canada), and can be attended virtually through Zoom with the following link:
https://zoom.us/j/96906656832?pwd=Y1A1bHUrVFN3RllrbmcyUEMxTThsZz09

Meeting ID: 969 0665 6832
Passcode: Gene
Mobile: 669-900-6833

Graveside Services will be held Saturday, December 4, 2021, at 12:00 Noon Mountain Standard Time (11:00 a.m. Pacific Time), at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah, and can be attended virtually through Zoom with the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86030089029


Guestbook/Condolences

Dear Ann, Larry and entire Hansen/Brasher families,
We send our deepest condolences for the loss of a true hero, your father, grandpa, great grandpa. For a man who wore himself out in the service of others. We feel it a privilege to have known and come to love “Gene-o”… he always had a quarter or some candy to disperse! He was always kind, attentive and interested. Joyful and positive could have been his middle names. What a wonderful, loving, man. He had the BEST aphorisms ever. We can’t imagine the reunion in heaven w Dot. Sending all our love.
Shirin and Nelson Cannon


- Shirin Cannon