Edgar Hansgen

Edgar Nicholas Hansgen of Elba, MN, passed away on October 4, 2024, at the age of 90. He was born on April 17, 1934, to Cornelius (Neil) and Alsadie (Kramer) Hansgen in Elba Township in Winona County. Ed graduated from St. Charles High School in 1952. He went on to earn an associate's degree in electrical engineering in 1955 from the Milwaukee School of Engineering and secured his first job at Magnavox in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was drafted into the Army from 1956-1958 and was stationed in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, near Washington, DC. He enjoyed exploring Washington and his time in the Army. He then returned to Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1958 and joined the Air Force Reserve. He continued with the Reserve in Rochester and Minneapolis when he returned to Minnesota in 1960 and resigned in 1972. 

In 1960, he married Elizabeth Baker of Fort Wayne, Indiana. They lived on the Hansgen family farm which he purchased in 1964. They had 4 daughters and later divorced. He married Janice (Jan) (Lee) Hansgen in 1970; they were married for 53 years at the time of his passing. 

Edgar enjoyed working with the St. Charles Jaycees as president and stayed active in his local community. In the 1970s, he became widely known for starting and running the Hiawatha Demonstration Farm for five years. He started the St. Charles Adult Ag Program and was involved in the beginning of the Elba Booster Club and Klondike Days in Elba. He served as an Elba Township officer for five years. He was appointed to the Winona County Planning Zoning Commission. Ed chaired the Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) for many years in the St. Charles area. Ed initiated the St. Aloysius Catholic Church youth group in Elba and was on the church council. He was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels in St. Charles. 

He loved farming; he liked the feeling of independence that owning and running his own farm gave him. He was proud of winning awards over the years for showing purebred Landrace champion hogs at the Minnesota State Fair. Ed was very ahead of his time in practicing and promoting sustainable farming techniques, including terracing and no-till plowing. Organic farming was his passion; he didn't just support organic farming, he helped get organic farms started in Minnesota and Wisconsin. 

Ed retired from farming in 1990 and started his own business, Hansgen Sales & Service as a Buffalo farm equipment distributor. He traveled the U.S. and had customers ranging from Canada to Texas and from the East Coast and Colorado. Many times Jan accompanied him on his travels. 

His personal interests including deer hunting, through which he made many friendships that endured for decades. Ed was raised in a card-playing family and loved to play poker with friends and solitaire in the quiet of his office. Many days you could find him visiting with friends and neighbors who would stop by and have a chat with him. Ed never passed up an opportunity to have a political or philosophical conversation with someone who dropped by for a visit. He had the ability to make everyone feel special to him through his genuine interest in their lives. He loved to make people laugh and had a great sense of humor. He had a good relationship with his mother-in-law, Kate Lee. 

Edgar is preceded in death by his parents, Neil and Alsadie, brothers-in-law Bill Marvin and Tom Slattery, and two infant daughters from his first marriage. He is survived by his wife, Jan, four daughters: Laura Hansgen, Apple Valley, Minnesota; Anita Troughton, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Cheryl Hansgen, Tallahassee, Florida; and Brenda Hansen, St. Charles, Minnesota, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Siblings: Audrey Marvin, Fort Collins, Colorado; Elaine Slattery, Denver, Colorado; Anthony (Tony)(Kathy), Huntington Beach, California; Kathy (Marguerite) (Tom), Denver, Colorado; and Louise (Bill) Kasak, Fremont Nebraska; brothers-in-law Gary (Joan) Lee and Larry (Terry) Lee, both of Altura, Minnesota. 

Visitation will be on Thursday, October 10, 2024 at Hoff Funeral Home, St. Charles, MN from 5pm to 8pm. Funeral services will take place on Friday, October 11, 2024 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St. Charles, MN at 11am with visitation beginning at 10am. The Rosary will be recited by extended family members during the reviewal on Thursday at 5:30pm, and by the Rosary Society at 10:30am on Friday before the funeral. Edgar will be laid to rest at St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery in Elba, MN. Military honors will be presented by American Legion Hugh Watson Post 190 and VFW Post 5630. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to a charity of your choice. 

The funeral service will be livestreamed. To watch the funeral service remotely, please visit the link below. 

https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcyODM2MDE2MjMzMTQ3MSZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Hoff Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.