Jeffrey Arnold Hansen, a carpenter and beloved father and grandfather from Amasa, MI, passed away on Tuesday, October 27th at 58 years old.

Born in Crystal Falls on September 5th, 1968, to Barbara (Lange) and Ruben Hansen, Jeff lived most of his life in Amasa. It was the only place he ever would have liked to call his home. As a child, he and his friends often had the run of the town. He loved to share stories of his childhood in his favorite place on earth. His nickname since he was a teen was given to him by friends- He was also known as Smed/Smedley- “Never wrong, never right…. Never knows what the hell he’s talking about.”

His true life’s work was split between his two great loves: His family and his work as a carpenter.

He raised his daughters, April and Jess, as a single father for much of their early years with the help of his mother, Barb. When his daughter, Elizabeth, was born with his second wife Joan, he felt his family was complete. His job as a parent continued on when he took on the responsibility of raising three of his grandchildren (Nadia, Lilly, and Caden). No matter how insurmountable any challenge became, he did not give up.

Jeff was an incredibly skilled and knowledgeable carpenter. He had the great pride of owning his own construction company until 2007 with his late brother-in-law and best friend, Bryan Wirtanen. In recent years, Jeff loved working alongside his eldest daughter, Jess- passing on as much of his knowledge and skills as he could to someone who he trusted would do her best to pass them along. He loved everything about his job and was constantly learning new tricks of the trade to be the best as he could possibly be. Every single home and project that he worked on, he did with complete focus and the intention of giving the best quality he could to homeowners. For that, his life’s work will live on with hundreds of families for generations to come.

Known as a true jack of all trades, Jeff was the person many of his friends would call when they experienced a problem or needed to figure out how to fix something. If he didn’t already know it- He would learn anything to be of help. Everything he did, he would also do with an incredible sense of humor. No matter what life threw at him, he would find a way, within his self-deprecating manner of being to laugh about it, and make you want to laugh, too.

Jeff believed that true strength of character came from integrity, honesty, and pride in what you did and how you spent your time. He believed that having pride in his work and his relationships were the things that mattered most- and they did. Depending on one’s values, they may have known him as the kindest and most selfless person they knew, or someone who was incredibly hardheaded and brutally honest- He didn’t ever mind how he was thought of, because he knew exactly who he was.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Barbara Hansen (Lange) and Ruben Hansen, and siblings Michael Hansen and Debbie (Bryan) Wirtanen. He is survived by daughters Jess (Amasa), April (Iron River), and Libby (Amasa); his grandchildren, Nadia, Dane, Lilly, and Caden; his dogs and cat, Hektor, Beans, and Pluto; his granddogs, Jude and Ziggy; and many other family members and friends he held in high regard.

A celebration of life will be held at the Horseshoe Bar in Amasa, MI on Friday, November 20th beginning at 3pm. Stories, photos, and condolences can be directed to the family by mail at PO BOX 214, Amasa, MI 49903.

Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Jeff’s family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com