Laurence O. Hansch, 97, of Fort Dodge passed away Tuesday, January 11, 2022 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday January 17th at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in Colfax Cemetery. A visitation will be on Sunday from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at Laufersweiler Funeral Home.
Laurence is survived by his children Larry (Nancy Sue) Hansch of Nocona, TX, Lane (Susie) Hansch of Fort Dodge, and Janet (Tim) Wendell of Fort Dodge, 6 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Carolyn "Lena" (Dencklau) Hansch; wife, Hazel (Musselman) Hansch; son, Jim Hansch, and siblings, Lillian Telschaw, Leonard Hansch, and Lydia Dencklau.
Laurence Otto Hansch was born December 18, 1924 in rural Vincent. He attended country schools. On August 19, 1944 he was united in marriage to Hazel Musselman at St. John's Lutheran Church. The couple established their home in Vincent. Laurence farmed in the area until 1970. In 1961, he went to work for Land O' Lakes where he worked for over 20 years until his retirement in 1981. Laurence's greatest passion was breeding, raising, and breaking horses, which he did until the age of 78. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and was inducted into the Iowa QHA Hall of Fame in January of 2004 along with his stallion, Mr. Mac Reynolds. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church and later St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Memorials may be left to family discretion.
Tributes
Terri Avery wrote on Jan 16, 2022:
"We knew Laurence from the jams at Otho and Dows. He was a kind, sweet man. I always enjoyed visiting with him about horses! In the early 70's he bought a horse named Ace from my father in law. Thinking of your family and what a blessing he must have been to you all."
Janice Telschaw Kloss wrote on Jan 16, 2022:
"Im thinking of you all in the loss of your dad who lived an amazingly long life. I am the remaining member of the Walter and Olga Telschaw family. Treasure memories. Janice Telschaw Kloss. God?s blessings ?"
Marshel Rossow wrote on Jan 16, 2022:
"I'm sorry to hear of Laurence's death, but I'm glad to see he lived a long, meaningful, horse-filled life. His mother, Lena, was the sister of my grandmother, Laura. I passed his farm thousands of times in my childhood and young adulthood en route to St. John's or Fort Dodge. I last spoke with him at my mother's funeral visitation several years ago and was intrigued by the horse stories he shared. I'm glad I had a chance to speak with him about his love for those wonderful creatures. My condolences to Janet, Larry, Lane and their families.
Marshel Rossow, Mankato, MN"