Craig Hansen
Craig C. Hansen, age 69 of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, died on February 27, 2025, at Sleepy Eye Medical Center. Visitation will be on Monday, March 3, 2025, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Sturm Funeral Home, Sleepy Eye Chapel with a Prayer Service at 3:45 pm. Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye – North Entrance with the Knights of Columbus Rosary at 10:15 am. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 11:00 am. The clergy will be Fr. Craig Timmerman. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Sleepy Eye. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Sleepy Eye. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Craig Charles Hansen, the son of Charles “Chisey” and Phyllis (George) Hansen, was born on October 15, 1955, in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. He attended school and graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Sleepy Eye. He earned a degree in business from University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Craig was united in marriage to the love of his life, Linda Zempel, on May 7, 1983, in Morgan, Minnesota. They were blessed with two children, Brady and Jody, and raised their family in Sleepy Eye.
Craig put his business education to work co-owning and operating Hansen Distribution Company until it sold in 2010. He put his personality, and his ability to talk to anyone and everyone, to work at KNUJ Radio where he was in sales and hosted his own show, “Community Accents” which promoted others making a difference in the area. Supporting his hometown, and everyone in it, led him to be the 2024 recipient of the Sleepy Eye Chamber of Commerce “Shining Star Award.” Craig was all about community, readily volunteering, and donating his time, talent, and resources wherever he could. A member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Craig belonged to the Knights of Columbus (3rd Degree).
The perfect husband and father, Craig absolutely adored his family, supporting and helping them in every way possible. Being his children’s #1 sports fan, he helped coach basketball, softball, and football, encouraging, teaching, and finding fun along the way. Beyond his family, Craig touched the lives of countless friends, and he leaves a legacy of community service, caring about others, and generosity. A man of many, many words, the world will be much quieter without Craig in it.
Craig is survived by his wife, Linda Hansen of Sleepy Eye; children, Brady Hansen of Phoenix, AZ and Jody Hansen (fiancé Jevan Richert) of Springfield; and other loving relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles “Chisey” and Phyllis Hansen and his parents-in-law, Elmer and Marge Zempel.
