Jim Hansen, 87 Montezuma, passed away Sunday morning, December 28, 2025 at Windsor Manor in Grinnell. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Friday, January 2, 2026 at the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Montezuma. Burial will be held in the Pleasant Township Cemetery in Ewart. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Thursday, January 1, 2026 at the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church with the family present to greet friends and relatives from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to Jan Hansen, to be distributed to the Monte Fire Department and the Blakley-Stevens America Legion Post 169.  Holland-Coble Funeral Home is overseeing the arrangements.

James Paul Hansen was born on January 3, 1938 in Des Moines, Iowa to Hans Christian Hansen and Bodil Marie Anderson Hansen. Jim grew up in the Montezuma area and attended and graduated from Montezuma High School in 1957.  He worked for Bowers' Construction before enlisting in the US Army in 1958.  Following his honorable discharge in 1964, Jim worked for Peter's Construction in Des Moines where he also learned masonry.  Jim was united in marriage to Janice Wickenkamp on September 28, 1962 at the Methodist Church in Beacon, Iowa.  He began farming with his brother, Bernie, in 1964.  For nearly 30 years he milked cows, raised hogs, sheep, chickens and had a stock herd.  Jim continued masonry work throughout Iowa, leaving his personal trademark and taking pride in showing off his work.  He completed his last block laying job in the Fall of 2021.

Jim enjoyed motorcycling, playing his favorite dice game Greedy Greedy, old westerns, eating ice cream, popcorn and Jan's homemade fudge while watching Hee-Haw on Sunday nights with his family.  He and Jan wintered in Arizona for over 20 years.  He was a former member of the Montezuma JC's, Montezuma Lions, SWDC office serving on the board, Blakley-Stevens American Legion and attended the Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Montezuma.

His legacy will be honored by his wife, Jan Hansen of Montezuma; his children, Jeff (Leslee) Hansen of Oskaloosa, Judd (Michele) Hansen of South Dakota, and Julie (David) Anderson  of Malcom; his grandchildren, Jana (Tyler) Wolfe, Ashley (Joe) Verdeck, Kaylin (Mike) Guajardo, Karah (Kenneth) Cain, Ainsley (significant other Austin) Hansen, and Hailey (Fiancé Mateo Oyarzun) Anderson; eleven great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild. He is survived by his brother, Bernie Hansen; and many other nieces, nephews, and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his grandson, Eric Hansen;  his siblings, Knute (Mary) Hansen, Lawrence (Beulah) Hansen, Alfred (Marilyn) Hansen, Howard (Bonnie) Hansen; sisters Betty June Hansen in infancy, Elizabeth (Charles) Baird, Irene (Jack) Feguson, Gladys (Kenneth) McAtee, and sister in-law Jane Hansen.

The boys from the class of 1957 wanted the class moto to be "If you rest, you rust", but they were shot down on that.  But Jim still lived by the moto all his life:

If you rest you rust!