August 31, 1959 - March 01, 2024
Neil Hansen passed away the morning of March 1, 2024. He was a military brat in the midst of an unpopular war, moving every two to three years as his dad learned to fly F4s and then went to Asia. Playing in the sage lands outside his home in Big Springs Texas (flight training). Collecting Tarantulas along with his brother in the field across from our house in California (Top Gun School). Fishing in the swamps of Florida. Watching the war news every evening with Mom in Washington state while his dad flew missions in Vietnam. Wandering the local communities off-base of Clark Air Force base in the Philippines. His younger brother John soon joined Neil and Craig, and they became a team - navigating frequent moves, new schools and making new friends. The three had so many adventures together and saw a more serious side of life as some of their friends� fathers lost their lives or were imprisoned in the war. That would change after they welcomed back the POWs (waving their hand-colored signs) in San Antonio. Moving to Spokane Washington (now with his sister Amber), and living on a farm, he began a more normal life. Neil�s lifelong love of animals (and particularly birds) really started there, and Neil joined the Future Farmers of America (FFA), always wearing the jacket, and always defending its honor against the townies that looked down on the country kids. He was known as a tough kid and never shied away from a fight. All three brothers graduated from Cheney High school, and all three brothers (and then Amber) would join the military. Neil joined the US Army right out of high school. Neil would go on to Ranger School and join the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington DC where he met his wife, Donna. Neil and Donna got married on January 17, 1981. After leaving the Army he drove a truck around the country, operated heavy equipment, and worked in receiving at Hanford Nuclear Reservation. He often talked with his brother Craig when he was at Hanford, sharing philosophies on how nuclear work should be performed. During the winter months, he volunteered for the Greater Spokane Meals on Wheels to deliver food to seniors when transportation was difficult. His true passion, however, was racing, and there was no place he was more at home then on the track, helping others - or entertaining the crowd by burning cars, or flying
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