Laurel Hansmann

Life History for Laurel Hansmann
Laurel Hansmann, age 83 of Grey Eagle, MN passed into the peace of Heaven early Saturday morning, June 5, 2010 from St. Michael's Nursing Home in Sauk Centre.
On March 31, 1927 Laurel Everett Hansmann was born to Ervin and Esther (Warner),Hansmann in rural Sauk Centre, MN. He joined the Navy as a young man and served his country during WWII from 1944 to 1946. He returned home and then went to work in western North Dakota putting up power lines. Upon returning to the Little Sauk area, Laurel went to work for the local Creamery before moving to Minneapolis and learning the trade of well drilling. He worked for the Ed Ring Well Company, later going on his own in 1960. Laurel married Joyce Colleen McClure on Feb. 18, 1948 and helped raise their five children. He did well drilling in Watertown, MN from 1969 - 1978 and then returned to live in Little Sauk where he operated the Hansmann Well Company. After Joyce's death in 1981, Laurel was remarried to Virginia Volkman on Nov. 18, 1988. He retired from well drilling in 1989.
Laurel was a lifelong member of the Long Bridge Lutheran Church in Little Sauk and served on the church board and as a trustee for many years. He was also a deacon. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Grey Eagle Senior Citizens club.
Besides enjoying his family and grandchildren, Laurel also found pleasure working out in his garden and yard. He kept everything looking well manicured and liked to share his garden produce with family and friends. He also liked to travel, especially the last twelve years when he was able to spend his winters in Texas and visit his many new friends and neighbors.
Laurel was able to learn and make anything and in addition to his many woodworking projects, he also crafted lamps. He was a big Twins and Vikings fan and liked to get out hunting and fishing each season. Socializing at the bowling lanes, taking in school reunions and visiting friends were other ways he enjoyed life. He was a loving husband, father, grandpa, great grandpa and brother who will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Laurel is survived by his wife, Ginny Hansmann of Grey Eagle; children, Sharon Marz of Minneapolis, Roxanne (Paul) Natysin of St. Bonnifacius, Laurel (Vicki) Hansmann II of Crestview, FL, Bob (Sue) Volkman of Osakis and Linda Volkman of Grey Eagle; 10 grandchildren; 4 great, grandchildren; a brother, Wayne (Donna) Hansmann of Sauk Centre and a sister, Carole (Donald, Sr.) Scott of Osakis. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Joyce and two sons, Gary and Robert.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 11:00 am at the Long Bridge Lutheran Church in Little Sauk with Rev. Steve Hilde officiating. Musicians are Ione Johnson, Jim Flan, Dana Hetland and Jenny Hansmann. Interment is at the church cemetery. Casketbearers are his nephews, David & Donald Scott, Wayne Hansmann, Jr., Michael Gindorff, Gregg Peters, Roger Peterson, Brian Rignell and Brett Rodenbiker.