52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Week 28 Prompt - Trains

2024

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 28

Prompt – Trains

Bill's Great-Uncle, William Edward Hansen is married to Bill's maternal grandmother's younger sister – Carolina Emily Bachmann.

Bill is William Hansen's namesake. One of Bill's earliest memories is the gift of a “hurdy-gurdy” that Great-Uncle Bill had given him. Apparently Bill was around 2 or 3 years old. 

1955 - Great-Uncle William Hansen With Bill Hoffart

 William and Carolina (aka; Lena) Hansen were married on May 7, 1928 in Melville, Saskatchewan. This is where they resided after the marriage. William (aka; Bill) worked with the CNR (Canadian National Railway). CNR's divisional point was at Melville because it was approximately halfway between Winnipeg and Saskatoon. Tragedy struck Great-Uncle Bill on April 12, 1946. 

April 13, 1946

William E. Hansen

Bill Hansen was fitted for a metal artificial leg at some point after. On one of his visits to the Hoffart household in Saskatoon, young Bill remembers this cute story of Great-Uncle Bill and his artificial leg. It was made of metal and young Bill was looking at it. Bill discovered a hole in the artificial leg. Great-Uncle Bill told young Bill that he had a real problem with that hole because the mice kept getting into his leg. However Great-Uncle Bill told young Bill that it was okay now because he put a mouse trap inside to catch the mice. However Great-Uncle invited Bill to go ahead and stick his finger in it. Bill remembers vividly that he never did put his finger into the hole of Great-Uncle Bill's artificial leg.

I feel stories like this are priceless. It tells me so much more about Great-Uncle Bill.  I'm sure he was a very fun loving fellow who enjoyed his life despite the tragedies that he had to bear. He lost his wife, Lena to cancer in December of 1955. His only child lived in California working as a nurse since 1951. 

I met him once or twice before his death in 1981.  And I know he was a guest at our wedding. Unfortunately I recall very little of him from these encounters.  

William E. Hansen - 1956 circa.

Wendy