Cecil "Lee" Hansen – age 72, of Pocahontas, passed away on Thursday, January 13, 2022, near Essex, California.

Cecil "Lee" Hansen was born May 2, 1949 in Fort Dodge, Iowa and grew up and went to school in Havelock. Lee then went into the Air Force in 1969 and trained for the job of an Aircraft Maintenance Specialist for reciprocating engine aircraft and Aircraft Maintenance Tech at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas and also at McClellan Air Force Base California. After being discharged from the service he began farming with his brother Jerry in Manson. In 1972, Lee married Lou Jean Becker and they had three children. He enjoyed racing cars and brought home many trophies. He attended the Indy 500 several years, many on his motorcycle, he loved motorcycles. He was always up for a night out at the movie theater, he saw every James Bond and John Wayne movie made. He enjoyed running the L & L Tire and Pitstop pizza & movie businesses in Pocahontas. In 1996, Lee married Helen Lilly. Farming and trucking were how Lee made a living in recent years, with trucking being his chosen profession. He loved to travel to see new sights and meet all kinds of people. One of his favorites was driving over Donner pass. He also had his favorite places to get a bite, like the Crystal Cafe. He didn't need a GPS "it was all up here," he joked. When a favorite tune would play on the radio, he'd turn it up and do his jig. If you called to see where he was, he might reply, "I'm standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona," if his mood was just right. When asked how he was doing, his reply would be "finer than frog hairs". Then he would laugh his unforgettable laugh.

Lee loved his family with everything he had in him. Christmas time was always special (he was a kid at heart) when he got the whole family together to feast on something smoked or grilled. "Papa Lee" as he was known to some of the grandkids, enjoyed being close to them and visiting with them whenever he could. Driscoll strawberries and combine rides in the fall will always spark fond memories of "Papa Lee".

Lee is survived by his wife Helen; his children, daughter Kimberly Gehrt (Mike), son Kenneth Hansen (Angie), daughter Kelley Ferguson (Mike); step-daughter Leslie Morgan, step-daughter Lynda Leners (Nathan); sister Janice Young (Rich), brother Bill Hansen, sister -in-law Barb Hansen; 12 Grandchildren, Madelynn Frieden (Sam), Elizabeth Gehrt, Isabell Gehrt, Abigale Gehrt, Emma Hansen, Keagen Boekhout, Kayden Boekhout, Eli Cable, Anthony Garber, Julia Gonzales, Logan Gonzales Jr, Kyro Gonzales and 1 Great Grandchild Theo Frieden.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Clara Hansen; his sisters, Donna Chalfant and Shirley Lyons; brother, Jerold (Sonny) Hansen; granddaughters Rebecca Hansen and Ava Gonzales.