Leon David Hansen, 75, passed away Tuesday, February 6, 2024 after a four year battle with cancer.
Cremation has taken place, there will be no services held at this time. A Celebration of Life will be held in the summer.
Arrangements are being cared for by Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater.
Leon was born on February 9, 1948, to Susan Cecelia (Rivard) and Gilbert Lethaby Hansen in Mt. Clemens, Michigan.
He grew up in New Baltimore, Michigan, he attended St. Mary’s Catholic School for 12 years, where he played baseball and football. Leon attended Michigan Tech University, where he studied Civil Engineering, English, History, and Education. While there, he attended St. Albert the Great Catholic Church in Houghton, MI.
Leon spent three summers working on Isle Royale in Lake Superior as a bellhop, where he met his future wife, Catherine Ann (Catey). They were married at California Corners Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Michigan on June 21st, 1975. Their reception was held on the Catey Family farm in Reading, MI, before they rode off on a motorcycle to their honeymoon.
The next year they moved to their farm in Coldwater, Michigan, where they lived for the next 48 years. Leon enjoyed the outdoors and spent his early married years competing in dirt bike races and riding saddle bronc in the rodeo. They had their only child, Erin Elizabeth, on December 30, 1983. Leon spent much of his time coaching Erin’s Little League baseball teams and attending her many athletic and academic activities.
He enjoyed wood-working and watching Detroit and Notre Dame sports in his free time. Leon worked as a motorcycle mechanic at Cole’s Cycle Shop in Angola, Indiana until 1994 when he took over ranching duties at his in-laws 160-acre farm. Leon raised Polled Hereford cattle until 2019. Leon always dreamed he would grow up to be a cowboy!
When he wasn’t busy ranching, Leon spent his time hunting, fishing, riding motorcycles, and tent-camping with his family. He made a trip “Up North” with Erin every year since 1999! They visited many places in Northern Michigan, including the Pictured Rocks, Whitefish Point, and many waterfalls and lighthouses. Leon’s favorite vacation spot was Mackinaw City, where he loved to sit peacefully and look out over the water with the Mackinac Bridge in the background.
Leon is survived by his wife Catherine Hansen, his daughter Erin Hansen, his foster brother Timothy Haremza and several other stepsiblings, his cousins Billy, Bobby, Danny, Ruthann, Karen, Kay, Mary Lou, Marsha, Lucille, and many, many more.
Leon was preceded in death by his parents Susan and Gilbert Hansen, his stepmother Mae Elizabeth (Kennedy) Harland, his in-laws Daniel Wilford Catey and Dorothy Jean Johnstone, his godfather Johnny Walker, and life-long friend John Goerlich.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to Leon’s favorite charities, The Wounded Warrior Project, Paws for Purple Hearts, or the Humane Society of Branch County.
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