Donald Gilbert "Don" Hansen, Sr.

Mr. Donald Gilbert "Don" Hansen, Sr., age 83, of Vancleave, MS, passed away on October 26, 2019. Don was a native of San Diego, CA and a longtime resident of Vancleave. He graduated from Prescott, AZ High School and served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps. While serving in Miami, FL he met and married Jo Ann Adams. After completing military service, he began a 33 year career with IBM, rising to the position of Advisory Programmer of Software Engineering providing support for NASA's Apollo, Apollo-Soyuz and Skylab missions. Upon his retirement, Don relocated to Vancleave. He was a Gideon and a member of Pine Lake Baptist Church. He was a skilled wood worker/furniture builder and an avid supporter of the US military. Above all other pursuits, he served churches from California to Florida as a deacon, Bible teacher, lay preacher, music director, and worked in youth and singles ministries. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Ruby Hansen, his brother, Leroy Hansen, his wife of 50 years, Jo Ann Adams Hansen, and his step-son, Jerome Barnes. Survivors include his wife, Louise K. Hansen; sons, Don (Debbie) Hansen, Jr., Jeff (Leigha) Hansen, and daughter, Sherry (Oscar) Carrerro; step-sons, Mike (Louise) Barnes, John (Valorie) Barnes, and step-daughters, Brenda (Steve) Little, Jennie (Keith) Johnson, and Christi (Ray) Bates, and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be on Friday, November 1, 2019, from 1pm until 2pm, followed by a 2pm Memorial Service, all at Pine Lake Baptist Church of Vancleave. The Vancleave Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.