James M. "Whitey" Hansen, 92, of Rock Island, died Monday, January 2, 2017 at Heartland Healthcare Center, Moline.  Funeral mass will be held  at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island.  A Christian wake service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and  visitation will follow from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island.  Burial will be in Rock Island National Cemetery.  Memorials may be made in care of St Pius CHurch, Alleman High School or the Rock Island Conservation Club.

Jim was born on October 11, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY to John and Elizabeth Kelly Hansen.  Jim's parents died at a young age and he and his twin brother, Joe, were raised in an orphanage in upstate New York.  He married Catherine Isabelle Kirchner on July 6, 1945 in St. Patrick, MO.

Jim proudly served with the U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers during World War II.  After his discharge from the Army, he and his little family settled in the Quad Cities.  Jim worked as a truck driver and retired from Churchill Truck Lines in 1982.

Jim was an avid fisherman who enjoyed dancing, racquetball and playing euchre.  He loved to go out and share a hearty breakfast with family members.  Jim would often take his sons camping and fishing in Missouri.  He traveled to Florida many times to visit his twin brother, Joe, and go deep sea fishing and he also enjoyed weekend fishing trips with his brother in law, Bill Hungate.  Jim could often be found tinkering on treasures he found at a garage sale, or lending a hand to one of his many friends.  Jim was a retired member of the Teamsters Local No. 371. He was also a member of the Milan American Legion Post 569, Rock Island Moose Lodge, Lifetime member of the Rock Island Boat Club and a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island.

Survivors include his wife, Catherine Isabelle Hansen; children, Joan Holgate, Rock Island; Joe (Jean) Hansen, Moline; John (Bonnie) Hansen, Milan; Robert Hansen, Rock Island and foster-son, Devin (Lisa) Hansen, Milan.  Also surviving are nine grandchildren, Kenneth Holgate, Thomas Holgate, Patricia Holgate-Norris, Melinda Leenerts, Elizabeth Holgate, Tamara Robinson, Pamela Barrios, Christopher Hansen and Katy Hansen; 22 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren and four step grandsons.

Jim was preceded in death by his son, James B. Hansen, two grandchildren and all 5 of his siblings.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Heartland Healthcare Center, Moline for the capable and compassionate care given to Jim during his final illness.