Late Cook Co. Board member Hansen set to rest
Despite a gruff exterior, former Cook County Commissioner Carl R. Hansen was a sentimental man who faithfully served his suburban constituents, friends say.
Former campaign manager Victor Santana recalled Hansen's attachment to his late-model Cadillac.
Hansen would have Santana comb the country finding a replacement car for his wrecked "battleship."
Hansen grew attached to the make and model because its hearty construction protected him upon impact and saved his life during a car accident. Aerodynamics and new features didn't mean much to Hansen.
"It didn't matter if it was going to be 2050, he was going to have the model," Santana said Saturday during Hansen's funeral in Mount Prospect.
The 83-year-old son of Danish immigrants died Feb. 2 at a Skokie Hospice facility. The Mount Prospect man spent 32 years as one of the only Republican representatives on the Democrat-dominated Cook County Board, serving the 15th District from 1974 to 2006.
Family, friends and dignitaries gathered Saturday morning at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Mount Prospect for funeral services. Among attendees were state Rep. Paul Froehlich and Cook County Commissioner Timothy Schneider, who defeated Hansen in the 2006 Republican primary, ending Hansen's tenure.
Former state Sen. Cheryl Axley cited the man with the booming voice as a mentor. She spoke about how Hansen came to terms with the loss faster than his friends and colleagues.
"We were so distressed, but he took it in stride, he said 'that was yesterday,'" Axley said. "He comforted us and then he said, 'Go out and keep that seat Republican,' and we did."
Axley also spoke about Hansen's love for his wife, Christl, who died in 2007. They met while he served in the U.S. Army while stationed in Germany. Hansen said after her death he never had to worry about talking politics at home, as his wife - an artist - disliked the topic.
While he often cast the lone dissenting vote while serving as the only Republican on the board, Hansen was not partisan, Axley said. She recalled a story from about a decade ago when Hansen told her about working together with the late Board President John Stroger, a staunch Democrat. Axley was surprised the two were acting friendly.
"As an elected official, I do not have the luxury nor do I want to be in office to represent the Republican Party," Hansen told Axley. "I am a Republican who represents all of the people both Republican and Democrats, and everything in between. Being in the minority, to be effective you have to respect and get to know others you work with and find common ground... otherwise you end up as some ineffective party lackey..."
Santana also mentioned Hansen's friendship with former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
County board President Todd Stroger also attended the funeral, though he arrived 45 minutes late, after Santana, a pallbearer, delivered the final remembrance speech.
"Commissioner I want to say, this meeting is now adjourned, please try not to give God that much trouble," Santana said.