Nels Peter Hansen

Nels Peter Hansen, age 59, of Greenville, passed away Friday, April 30, 2021 at Mercy Health - St. Mary's in Grand Rapids. The son of Duane & Elaine (Robinson) Hansen, he was born on March 18, 1962 in Greenville and was a 1980 graduate of Greenville High School. He then attended Ferris State University before beginning a 36 year career with Federal-Mogul Corporation, retiring in June of 2017. On May 19, 1984, at Faith Baptist Church in Greenville, he married his high school sweetheart, Lori Sue Northam, and together they raised eight children and enjoyed nearly 37 years of marriage. Nels was blessed with multiple God given talents and skills and will long be remembered for his gifts of music and song. He had served as music director at Faith Baptist Church in Greenville for many years, and from 2011 until present as worship accompanist at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Greenville, as well playing and singing anywhere and everywhere he was asked. Immensely proud of his Danish heritage, Nels helped to establish and was the current president of the Danish Cultural Center of Greenville, as well as serving as president of the Amble Memorial Sanctuary (the former Dannebrog Lutheran Church) at South Sidney, where he'd play the pump organ -- often accompanied by his children -- at the annual Memorial Day service. Always a promoter and supporter of Greenville's annual Danish Festival, Nels is probably the only man able to claim two Danish Festival queens as daughters. He was a member of the Danish Brotherhood Society, volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Montcalm County, had been a member of the Washington Club, enjoyed farming and raising livestock, and traveling... especially his trips to Denmark. Never one to sit idle, in retirement Nels first worked at Tractor Supply Company (TSC) in Greenville, until joining the Christiansen family as a funeral care associate in 2018 to present. Surviving are his wife, Lori Hansen of Greenville; their children, Kristen & David Kohn, Anna & Jason Townsend, Peter & Katie Hansen, Eric & Kayla Hansen, Danny Hansen, Julia & Kevin Bradley, Lena & Kenny Wood, and Ditte Hansen; eight grandchildren, Noah Kohn, Charlotte Kohn, Isla Townsend, Anders Townsend, Luken Townsend, Heather Hansen, Anabelle Hansen, and Nora Bradley; his parents, Duane "Duke" & Elaine Hansen; his sisters and brothers, Mary Jane & Steve Swayze, Fred Hansen, Chris & Dottie Hansen, Carrie & Derek Syrjala, and Simeon Hansen; his mother-in-law, Ginny Northam; a grandmother-in-law, Juanita Wells; siblings-in-law, LeRoy Northam, Lisa & Bill Wernet, and Leslie Garrison; a great aunt, Bette Houle; several nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Jerry Lee Northam on September 3, 2001. Visitation is from 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 5, 2021, under the temporary tent outside of Greenville Community Church, 6596 Vining Road, Greenville. Honoring Nels' wishes, committal services will take place privately at South Sidney Cemetery. A service of celebration of Nels' earthly life and praising his new Heavenly life will be held at 1:00 p.m.. on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at Greenville Community Church, 6596 Vining Road, Greenville. Those attending any events are respectfully asked to mask and practice social distancing. For those unable to attend, a live stream of Nels' celebration will be available on the church's website: https://www.gccpeople.com/livestream Instead of flowers, Nels would have appreciated contributions in his memory to either the Danish Cultural Center of Greenville (https://www.facebook.com/danishculturalcenterofgreenville/) or to Have Mercy (https://www.havemercymi.org/). To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Nels Peter Hansen, please visit our flower store.