William R. Hansen

Danielson, CT- William R. Hansen age 97 passed away peacefully at home, Wednesday, February 27, 2019.  He leaves his wife Jacqueline Hall Hansen of seventy-one years and three children: son Peter C. Hansen and wife Dianne, son Jon W. Hansen and wife Jody, and daughter Susan L. LaGrow. He also leaves five grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his mother Sylvia Hansen, his father Jul Hansen, sister Lillian Hansen and son-in-law Clayton LaGrow.

Born in 1921 to Sylvia Nilsen and Jul Hansen, he grew up in Brooklyn, NY where his father owned Hansen’s Boat Yard. In 1943 he enlisted in the US Coast Guard and served on LST 791 in the Pacific theater during WWII. Upon his return from the war, he attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and later became an aerospace engineer. In the 1960s he worked for Grumman Aircraft as one of the design engineers on the Apollo Lunar Module which landed the first men on the moon. He loved sailing and belonged to the Sheepshead Bay Yacht Club where he met the love of his life—Jacqueline Hall. There he raced Star class sailboats and was fleet champion in 1949. He also built a thirty-foot cabin cruiser named “Jacky” which he later kept in Wethersfield Cove, Ct. He was always known for his sunny disposition. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the US Sailing Foundation, https://www.ussailing.org/about/ussf/donate/. All services are private.  The Shaw-Majercik Funeral Home, 48 School St., Webster, MA has been entrusted with his arrangements.  A guest book is available at www.shaw-majercik.com where you may post a condolence or light a candle

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