Donald Hansen

1938 - 2026

Donald Hansen, age 88, passed away on September 19, 2026, surrounded by his family. Donald lived a life rich in story and generosity. He and his wife, Betty, left Chicago to build a simpler life on a farmette in rural Wisconsin. He’d often say his life started with Betty and was a fairy tale ever since.

As a mason and master craftsman, Donald left a tangible legacy across the Midwest. He restored the historic mosaic tiles inside the Madison Capitol building – earning his artwork a proud display in the rotunda – and preserved numerous historic buildings across the UW-Madison campus. His enduring stonework lives on in fieldstone entrances, walls and fireplaces he constructed for local towns, businesses, and neighbors.

Beyond his craftsmanship, Donald was a man of diverse passions. He was a vibrant storyteller, a musician who sang and played accordion, guitar, and ukelele, an eclectic book lover, and an enthusiastic investigator of secret societies, unsolved mysteries, and conspiracy theories. His deep love for animals defined who he was; he regularly opened his home to abandoned cats and dogs, and occasionally accepted chickens and goats to settle unpaid debts. Donald’s life was an example of quiet kindness, marked by charitable giving and compassionate aid, notably to homeless and incarcerated individuals.

Donald was predeceased by his cherished wife of 49 years, Betty; his mother, Lucille; his grandmother, "Gram"; and his brother, Edward. He is survived by his five children, Karen (Michael Johnson), Susan (Joel Kindem), Rebecca (David Northcutt), Wendy (Marcelo Virgili), and David (Lynn Maki); his six grandchildren, Henry, Rosalyn, Noah, Harleigh, Francesca, and Harrison Donald; and his two sisters, Christine and Danielle.

While Donald’s absence will be greatly felt, his family of hooligans takes profound comfort in knowing he is finally reunited with Betty and others he has missed dearly. To the man who left the world warmer than he found it, shalom.

Visitation will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, WI from 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM on November 28, 2026. Service will start at 11:00 AM. Flowers may be sent to Cress Funeral Home or, if you wish to make a donation in Donald’s memory, please consider Olbrich Botanical Gardens or your local Humane Society.