Grant Hansel, Jr.

Grant Hansel, Jr., 91, died Wednesday, December 27, 2023 at Homestead Village, Lancaster PA. As stated in his own words: “Born to Grant and Eunice Jones Hansel, July 25, 1932, he arrived at the family farm on the Cherry Valley Turnpike, a region settled and cleared by his pre-revolutionary ancestors. He would soon be joined by brothers Sheldon (deceased), Kent, and Ronald, then sister Nancy, and is survived by his wife, Joan Maertins Hansel, daughters, Sherry (Scott Qualls, Lancaster, PA.) and Suzanne (Wayne Burkholder, Raymond, ME.), and sons, Fritz (1959-74), Mark (Kelly Ryan-Lunenberg, MA.), and Luke (Nannette Sartoris, State Line, NV./Lake Tahoe), and also 8 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Grant began working field crops with his own team of horses in 1940 and would later join older farmers to rebuild or maintain their tractors in WWII night workshops. He attended the West Winfield Congregational Church, and Central High School, West Winfield, NY- competed and won NY State Music prizes as a voice and instrumental soloist, pitched Varsity baseball for three years with no losses, played football and, graduated from high school in 1949 and earned a scholarship for engineering study at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA. At Lehigh, three years of varsity football began with the undefeated 1950 season featuring wins over Rutgers, Delaware, and Dartmouth. He was Delta Upsilon Fraternity Rush Chairman, a Packer Chapel vocal soloist, and met expenses as a waiter and janitor. A major fire at the home farm divided his time for much of the final college semester. After the new barn was completed, he began work in 1953 at GE in Schenectady as a Metallurgical Engineer, writing two patents on welding alloys and techniques needed to build the first nuclear-powered full-size steam turbine, while introducing quality and cost savings procedures on the large steam turbine assembly department. During two years in Schenectady, he performed with the Light Opera Company. During his 1956 military research assignment, Grant and Joan were married in Dedham, MA. New daughter, Sherry, joined them for their 1957 move from Washington DC to Hingham, MA., where they lived for the next 53 years. There, Grant was a Chairman of Trustees - Hingham Congregational Church, and a 30-year choir member, -where 2 daughters were married, 4 children baptized, and Fritz was memorialized. Grant sang Baritone leads in Hingham Civic Theater productions, - also in the first (1963) of many annual Hingham Cabaret variety shows, many with wife Joan. He coached and managed Junior League Baseball and Pop Warner Football teams, - a total of 27 years of youth sports, - served on the Harbor Development and Finance Advisory Committees, was a member of the Hingham Yacht Club, and campaigned for Town Selectman. In 50 years as General Manager and President of the Henry S. Wolkins Co (founded 1844), Grant managed the sale and installation of furniture and equipment for major northeastern Schools and Colleges, including theaters, lecture halls, and Laboratories. Its School Supply division made and distributed writing and art supplies and had a large printing and paper converting operation that involved a wide variety of paper grades. Expanding operations prompted the company’s 3 moves to larger quarters in 1960, 1974, and 2001. When digital learning replaced the supplies and tools used in traditional education, the printing operation and warehouse were closed, and operations ceased. In 2010, Grant and Joan attended the 60th reunion of Lehigh’s undefeated 1950 team and settled in Lancaster, PA. where he was involved in vocal choir, family history, and woodworking activities.” Relatives and friends are invited to a Musical Celebration of Life at Church of the Apostles, 1850 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603 on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Kathryn Kuhn officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. Interment will be held in the Spring of 2024 at the East Winfield Cemetery (Hansel family plot) in West Winfield, NY. The family wishes to thank the Homestead Village nurses, caregivers, and staff who cared for Grant. Memorial contributions may be made to the following: Lehigh Info Processing, 306 W. New Street, Suite 500, Bethlehem, PA 18015-1652 for the Lehigh Athletic Department -or- Homestead Village Benevolent Society Fund, 1800 Village Circle, Lancaster, PA 17603. A live stream of the service will be available, www.apostlesucc.org