Knud Hansen

The world lost a wonderful human on Saturday, August 8, 2026. Knud Laurits Hansen passed away while in his Okemos, MI home, after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife of nearly 52 years, Kay Hansen, his three daughters Anne (Jim) Curtis, Erin (Alicia Verdier) Hansen, and Lauren (Igor Houwat) Hansen, and his five grandchildren, Jimmy, Nicole, Aidan, Meredith, and Naomi. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Mark Helms, niece Jennifer Helms, niece Molly (Scott Demming) Brown and their son Nolan, and other dear family members throughout the United States and Denmark, with whom he enjoyed communicating through email and Facebook.

Knud was born October 23, 1944 in Gislev, Fyn, Denmark and lived in the small village of Ulbølle before immigrating to the United States with his sister, Jette Brown, and parents (Svend Ove and Astrid Hansen) to Detroit, MI, at the age of 10. He was an excellent scholar and after graduating from Lincoln Park High School, Knud obtained degrees from Michigan State University (BA in Psychology) and Wayne State University (MA in Sociology) before returning to Michigan State University for his terminal degree (PhD in Sociology). With a seemingly endless supply of patience, Knud helped others pursue their educational goals by teaching at several institutions, including Eastern Michigan University, where he met his soulmate and wife of nearly 52 years, Kay.

Through his 81 year journey, Knud touched many individuals with his gentle, compassionate, and giving nature. Knud was a self-proclaimed pacifist and supporter of human rights who spent most of his life and career serving those in need. He worked in various public services roles, including advisor to Michigan State Senate Committee on Health and Social Services, Community and Economic Development Specialist on the Governor’s Cabinet Council, Executive Assistant within the Michigan Department of Social Services, and as Director of the Office of Adult Services and the Purchased Care Division within the Michigan Family Independence Agency, from which he retired in 2003. Knud also helped found Haven House in Lansing, MI, which helps provide temporary shelter for homeless families and guides and supports them to secure housing. Throughout his life, he modeled empathy, compassion, and kindness towards all individuals, stating that no one really knows the life circumstances of others.

Knud was an avid photographer, capturing stunningly beautiful moments of nature or sneaking candid snapshots of his family and friends. He also loved reading and watching movies, which could have originated from his learning to speak English from watching television, when first moving to the United States. Each summer, Knud nurtured fantastic gardens filled with flowers for pollinators, vegetables, and other plants, such as 12+ foot tall sunflowers. Knud was fond of nature and animals, enjoyed catching up with friends (special shout out to his “Geezer” buds), and loved listening to music and supporting his wife’s and children’s musical ventures. Perhaps most, though, Knud loved spending time with his family: playing with his grandchildren, enjoying a good meal while laughing with his family, or taking a stroll through the Historical Village, hand-in-hand with Kay.

The Hansen family invites friends and family to celebrate the life of Knud Hansen with an afternoon of sharing memories, food, and time in nature on September 27 from 1–4 PM at the Davis Nature Pavilion at Fenner Arboretum, 2020 East Mount Hope Ave., Lansing, MI. The gathering will begin with a potluck meal, with an opportunity for guests to share stories and memories of their time with Knud. Many family hikes took place at Fenner, and the Hansen family welcomes anyone who would like to join them for a commemorative hike in Knud’s memory following the gathering, weather permitting. The hike is entirely optional.

For those who would like to contribute to the potluck, a sign-up can be found here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4BAAA722A3FDC16-65821858-acelebration

In liu of flowers, donations can be made in Knud’s name to the following organizations:
Haven Househttps://havenhouseel.org/
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Networkhttps://pancan.org/?form=FUNGMWGYGJJ
American Civil Liberties Unionhttps://action.aclu.org/give/now?ms_aff=NAT&initms_aff=NAT&ms=web_hero_redesign_hp&initms=web_hero_redesign_hp&ms_chan=web&initms_chan=web
SASHA Farm: Sanctuary and Safe Haven for Animalshttps://givebutter.com/Sasha2026