Wesley Hansen Dies At 72

Wesley Lee Hansen, age 72, passed away April 9, 2017 at Hope Hospice. Born January 31, 1945 in Fort Myers at Lee Memorial Hospital, Wesley is the son of the late Carl William Hansen, Sr. and the late Mildred Burdette Hansen.

A true Florida Cracker; he was raised in Fort Myers, graduated from Fort Myers High School, and married his high school sweetheart – Deanna Sanders Hansen. Together, they raised a family and a bunch of orange groves.

Although LaBelle became their home, Wesley's love of Fort Myers and his attachment to his fishing buddies never let up. By sponsoring each year's Cracker Invitational fishing tournament, he and Sam Galloway kept the Tribe together. Never to be forgotten, Wesley made a positive impact on almost everyone.

An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed teaching his children how to hunt and fish. Together, he and his family spent their summers fishing in Key West. His grandchildren were the light of his life and meant the world to him. Regardless of the type of day he may have had, their voices were enough to make his world a whole lot better.

Married for 49 years, he is survived by his wife, Deanna (Sanders) Hansen; two daughters, Leigh Franco (Matt) and Missy Hansen; a son, Wesley L. Hansen, Jr. (Dana); five grandchildren, Tyler Franco (Jennifer), Kyle Franco, Madison Franco, Alyssa Hansen, and Taylor Hansen; an aunt, Dorothy Wyatt; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Julius and Betty Sanders; sister-in-law Debbie Lawson and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and his brother, Carl William Hansen, Jr.

Having never met a stranger he leaves behind many friends and others, including lifelong friends Sam Galloway, Jr., Ben Hill Griffin III, Don Davis, Bubba Gaston, and Joe D'Alessandro – each having a story to tell.

Funeral services will be held Friday, April 14, 2017 at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Myers, with Rev. Paul DeJong and Pastor Preston Long officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 6:00-8:00 pm at Akin-Davis Funeral Home, LaBelle, FL and Friday, one hour prior to service at First Presbyterian Church, Fort Myers, FL. Interment will be in Fort Myers Memorial Gardens, Fort Myers.

In lieu of flowers, the family has designated Pace Center for Girls of Lee County, 3800 Evans Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33901 or Hope Hospice in memory of Wesley Hansen.

Arrangements by Akin-Davis Funeral Home – LaBelle