Raymond J. “Ray” Hansen, 85, of Foster City, Mich., went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 1, 2015, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield, Wis., following a brief illness. His beloved family was at his side.

He was born July 25, 1929, in Iron Mountain, son of the late Julius and Signe (Johnson) Hansen.

Ray grew up in Iron Mountain and graduated from Iron Mountain High School, Class of 1947. He married Adelaide (Addie) Winters in Marquette, Mich., on October 13, 1951. Ray enlisted in the United States Air Force during the Korean War and served four years before being honorably discharged in 1954.

He loved the newspaper field and after returning home to Iron Mountain, he once again joined the staff of the Iron Mountain Daily News as a printer-compositor where he worked until his retirement. Ray then joined the team at Jacobs Funeral Home for the next ten years.

Ray and Addie raised five wonderful children; Daniel (Peggy) Hansen, Coleman, Wis., Julie (Mark) Osterberg, Marshfield, Wis., Kathryn (Robert) Carlson, Marshfield, David (Laurie) Hansen, Stevens Point, Wis., and Peter (Erin) Hansen, Mosinee, Wis.

They delighted in their sixteen grandchildren; Amy (Kevin) Dugan, Jane (Matt) Schultz, Kate (Mark) Gross, Britt (Christian) Felix, David and Kirsten Osterberg, Kristina (Matt) Harter, Kara (Mark) Anderson, Gabriel, Zachary, Daniel and Grace Carlson, Jana (Nathan) Brown, Tyler Hansen, and Noah and Lily Hansen. They were blessed with thirteen great grandchildren; Hannah, Collin and Ava Dugan, Isaac, Eli and Emmett Schultz, Adam and Leo Gross, Shea, Paige and Lauren Felix, Arabella Harter and June Anderson. Another great grandchild is expected in June.

Ray’s faith in God was what defined his life. He was a member of First Covenant Church, Iron Mountain, serving as a Sunday School Teacher, choir member, and church board member and in most other areas of the church he loved. Upon moving to the family home in Foster City following his last retirement, he found great fellowship in attending Mission Covenant Church for the past ten years.

He loved the outdoors; treasuring the time he could spend hunting in Foster City with his son Peter and other family members. Ray was an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, Michigan State Spartan basketball team, and Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed many trips to games with his sons that left lasting memories.

Ray is survived by his beloved wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He also leaves three sisters; June Larson, Dorothy (Raymond) Edlund, and Carolyn (Elwood) Anderson all of the Iron Mountain area and a sister-in-law, Pat Winters of Minneapolis. There are many nieces and nephews who will miss him as well.

In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by one cousin, Donald Larson, aunts, uncles, and several very special sisters and brothers-in-law as well as dear friends of many years.

Visitation will be Sunday, January 4, 2015, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at First Covenant Church, 125 East “H” Street, Iron Mountain. The Funeral Service will be held, 5:00 p.m. at the church. Rev. Peter Erickson and Rev. Carl Hammer will officiate. Burial will be in Foster City in the spring.

In Ray’s memory, memorials can be made to First Covenant Church, Iron Mountain or Mission Covenant Church, Foster City.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to the doctors and nursing staff in the palliative care unit at St. Joseph’s Hospital for their gracious and compassionate care extended to Ray during his illness.

You can leave a condolence for Ray’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com

The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, to honor Ray's Legacy of Life.