Phillip "Russ" Hansen

Phillip Russell “Russ” Hansen, 76, passed away on Saturday, November 16, 2024 at his home under the care of Community Hospice in St Augustine, Fla.

A private family funeral service was held at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel in Clear Lake. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Hope Ministries in Des Moines or to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa in the memory of Russ.

A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 7, at the Collins Christian Church, 303 Main Street, Collins with Pastor Scott Jones officiating.

Russ was born on May 18, 1948, in Des Moines, the son of James Peter Jr. and Charlotte Elizabeth (Fraley) Hansen.  He graduated from Ventura High School and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Animal Science at Iowa State University. 

On May 25, 1968, Russ was united in marriage to Deborah Grell at the Clear Lake United Methodist Church. Together they were blessed with two children. 

Russ always worked in the agriculture field. In 1975, he started working at Davis Equipment which was located in Des Moines and is a distributorship for agriculture equipment. In 1985, he became a partner in that company.

In 1980, Russ and his family moved to an acreage near Collins, where he spent the next 45 years lovingly taking care of the place.

Russ was a longtime member, Sunday School teacher and Elder of the Collins Christian Church. He had a heart for mission work and headed up four mission trips to Haiti.

After retirement, Russ started making furniture and doing artistic woodwork. In September of 2024, he and Deb relocated to St. Augustine.

Russ is survived by his loving wife, Deborah Hansen; his children, Dawn Renee Ehrhart and Michael Eric Hansen; grandchildren, Amanda Ehrhart and Ethan Ehrhart; brother, William David Hansen, and his sisters-in-law, Patty Hansen, Judi Gordon, Sharon Shuster, Virginia Lisitza, and their spouses Tenny Gordon, Paul Shuster, Mark Severtson, and Larry Lisitza and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Charlotte Hansen; in- laws, Reuben and Betty Grell; and sister-in-law, Lori Severtson.

Ward Van Slyke is in charge of arrangements.