Val (VJ)

"Our most treasured Dad, VJ, has ascended from this life he loved so well, has left the children he raised together with our Mom, Rose, to arrive in Heaven, where God has made provision for humble men and women. We miss him terribly but his Belief in the Lord and his love for us all, will guide us forever!"
Tammy, Wayne, Donna & Rosalea

"that’s what made uncle Val so great. . . he launched many ships he enabled so many around to soar" [Vernon Hanssen, nephew]

"How do you put in words the myriad of feelings that rise when a man of Uncle Val’s stature moves on? It’s impossible to do and with the physical distance between us, we can’t even be there to grieve and celebrate his life with you. Times like this, you realise it would have been an amazing privilege to have spent more time with a man like that and learned from him."
[Dale Hanssen, nephew]

"May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rain fall softly on your fields.
AND UNTILL WE MEET AGAIN,
MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE
PALM OF HIS HAND!”"
[An old Irish blessing that VJ always use to quote when saying good-bye, from Merle Keough, a close family friend]

"It gives me such a warm feeling to know that a large part of Val is still there living on OKONJIMA in his children and grand children. Meeting and knowing people are like ships sailing on an ocean. Some you merely pass, others you have the privilege of sailing with for various periods of time. Our ocean has lost a wonderful partner. Sailing next to Val was such a warming and peaceful experience. His enthusiasm and love for the bush and his cattle enriched our lives. Namibia and the Hanssens share a very special place in my heart. The Hanssens were our family in Namibia. Thank you very much for allowing us to share our lives with yours during our happy years in Namibia."
[Dr Rina Grant & Dr Harry Biggs, Skakuza SA]

"As I type we are in the middle of nowhere........ north western Queensland approaching Northern Territory. As we chew up the kilometers we have driven through a topographical mix of Swakop to Karibib/ Usakos/ Central Namib and the terrain south of Windhoek........without as many hills and the further west we go the soil has the slight red colour like Okonjima . We have come through major cattle country. These are vast properties with low head of cattle per hectares. I have seen Hereford and Short-Horn cattle........but am hoping to see Brahman........that would be my best. My thoughts are very much with VJ.

We first met VJ when we came to Okonjima as tourists in 1991 and remember VJ as the strong quiet force behind ALL the wheels that turned Okonjima. One of my early memories with VJ are after the sad loss of Rose... On visiting Okonjima I would walk with VJ through the beautiful Okonjima bush... and in those days with Elvis at his side. One occasion springs to mind........VJ was trying to teach Elvis to open and shut farm gates! We set off late afternoon with Elvis succeeding in opening / closing the gate from Okonjima farm house into the farm. On our return as the light was fading Elvis was not moving from the vehicle........ so out I jumped and could NOT open the gate. Why not, thought I... a dear baboon called, Elvis had opened and shut this gate a few hours before and now I was failing.....!!???? On succeeding (I think the links had twisted!) ..... and returning to the vehicle I am sure VJ was sharing my same thoughts.... as I can still see his face laughing on my account!

Also on numerous other visits to Okonjima be it with Ross, Peter and Andrew or on my own VJ ALWAYS made us feel SO, SO welcome. How fortunate am I to have been at Okonjima this June and shared more treasured moments with VJ. MEMORIES ARE THE SOUP OF LIFE WE TAKE A CUP AND DRINK FROM THIS AND IT KEEPS US WARM INSIDE......................
[Shez Letten, Brisbane - Australia]

"The years take me back............... 1967......... he was younger than most of you...... and remember I was a 21 year old !!! I can recall so vividly the first time I met Val - there he was, this real, live cowboy standing on Windhoek station.... like a picture out of an old Western !! The family greeted me - Granny was there too..... and then Val stepped forward and thrust out his hand saying "Howdy, so you are Pod's friend!!" That same holiday...... I a young town girl....... had to help with the inoculation and counting/checking of the cattle herd. I was assigned the task of ticking numbers in the book as the cattle went through the 'manga' (cow squeeze)........ and A herd number... or a B herd number!! All was going well until Val called a number that I couldn't find (or wasn't there).... I said; "Hang on that number isn't here" - by that time another animal had been injected, number had been called and it was through the manga. I repeated " Hang on I haven't got that one" and Val....... frustrated with me... strode over and said "you're just a bloody fool" and grabbed the book from me - only to discover that he had given me the wrong herd numbers or something. I was so taken aback that I retorted; "I may be a bloody fool, but those numbers are NOT here". From that day on our love and friendship was sealed.... and never did it waiver !!!

Thinking about it now I am so glad we could laugh about it and I repeated those memories to him........ his reply; "I would never have said that to a lady" What a compliment.... and how I have treasured seeing him and chatting with him all these years - whether it was about politics or some technological advancement. John too enjoyed his company and they shared much laughter. Such memories of a treasured friendship feeds ones very soul.

I had a letter from him recently (yes, Val wrote to me/ us over the last few years!!) I always admired that - he felt Rose had always kept in touch so he would keep alive our friendship and contact. My heart aches for you all - for to loose both parents closes a chapter in your lives. Somehow when one has a parent you always feel 'a child' - safe and secure, but when they both are gone........ a different loneliness steps in and it takes a while to accept the final severing of the umbilical cord - a spiritual bond which we all need.

He was IMMENSELY proud of you all and your achievements. Having his grandchildren completed his life of contentment. I always felt an affinity with Val - he had great insight into many things and one does not need much wealth and opulence in life - what you need must be all "inside" you and those of your very own all around you.... what more could a man ask for!

I bid Val "Farewell my true and trusted friend - and I know you believed you would see Rose and John again - rejoice with them and know that we down here below are doing just fine." " May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rain fall softly on your fields And until we meet again May God hold you in the palm of his hand."
[Merle Keough, Pietermaritzburg, SA]

"Uncle Val has always been the man that comes to mind when I think of WISDOM. A man who had the intricate webs of this life more sorted out than all of us. He could look at a situation and not need to wax eloquently to ‘pad’ a few choice words but be able to drill down to the meat of a situation and bring a situation in for landing with a few wise words. When Uncle Val spoke people listened. I remember buying a book of ‘Cowboy Wisdom’ for him and realizing that he’s not going to find this funny or interesting because he could have written the book and would have more to put in it than this author. Such was the man, unassuming but a man of incredible depth who didn’t need the world to know about his talents but was more concerned with his family and friends and doing what was right for them. We have all been blessed to have known him and strive to some day come close to having his impact on others around us!"
[Dale Hanssen, nephew – Salt Lake City, USA)

"I am so very sorry - your dad was one of a kind and will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. During my time on the farm, VJ never failed to make me feel one of the family. One of my fondest memories is being asked by VJ each week if (perhaps optimistically!) he could borrow "some muscle" to help with the last remaining cows on the farm. His charm, dry wit and wisdom set him apart in the eyes of this Englishman and I will forever remember his morning greeting; "Well Richard, another perfect day in Africa" - as always, he was spot on."
[Richard Brown, London – UK]

"Val was a wonderful man; a very special person who touched everyone he met. Val and your Mom made such an impression on me when I was invited to stay on the farm twenty-one years ago. While your Mum had me out learning about herbs and digging up interesting wood shaped by the termites, your Dad put me to work on the farm and enjoyed teasing me about not being quite tall enough to comfortably reach over the crush to dose the cattle. In the evenings, we'd sit and talk about all sorts of interesting things and I could see where you all got your Hanssen strength of character, spirit and sense of morality from.

I feel privileged to have had a lovely chat with Val two weeks ago and we had a very amusing chat about all of you. He said he was so impressed with your marketing skills and then referred to Rosalea as "our breeder". He seemed to be quite tickled to hear that it had taken me twenty-one years (and a major illness) to receive a compliment from Wayne. He thought that he, myself, his nephew and everyone else currently suffering with cancer should form a club! It just shows what a truly generous-hearted man Val was to be thinking of all of us when he was so terribly ill. He said he really needed to have his operation and that God would be with him whatever happened.

We can shed tears that he is gone
or we can smile because he has lived.
We can close our eyes and pray that he'll come back
or we can open our eyes and see all he's left.
Our hearts can be empty because we can't see him
or we can be full of the love we shared.
We can turn our backs on tomorrow and live yesterday
or we can cherish his memory and let it live on.
We can cry and close our minds, be empty and turn our backs
or we can do what he'd want: smile, open our eyes, love and go on."
[Fiona Anderson, London, UK]

 

"I write to you; Val’s children and grandchildren, ......... My Old Buddy of many years has moved on; doubtless not unhappy as he looks back over his life so far, in fact I am sure as is his due, with pride !Surely with eagerness he joins Rose, who was his wife, companion, friend and at times his spur, all those friends and family who preceded him in this sure and certain step in the eternal circle of life.

As I am not far behind him in life’s path it is a comfort to know he has gone ahead and when my time comes he will be around to show me the ropes. When someone moves on with whom you have shared much in life, memories flood in; the Grey Heights house and the foot and mouth cordon duty ; Pete’s rubber plant, soft lights and music centre that stirred Rose up so much; Little shouting Tammy while he and Rose partied! His siesta under a 2 foot thorn tree in the middle of the Namib while we sweltered in the desert sun for the required hour; the accursed series 1 Land Rover in first gear low ratio grinding almost to a halt on the Spreets Hoogte Pass........ I could go on and on and in my mind I relive those great times when our lives ran together every now and then.

To you his children and family, I say ,you were all privileged to have him and Rose as your parents and from what I have seen you have made good use both materially and spiritually of the wisdom, guidance and love that your folks gave to you all. My wish for you all is for you to live your lives to the full knowing that Val and Rose, your Mother and Father are probably closer to you than ever before and with this comforting knowledge go on in harmony and love till you too move along. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!
[NEVILLE AUSTIN – Rose’s cousin, Cape Town – SA] 

VJ, his Brother Pete Hanssen now living in the USA, and
his late brother Harold Hanssen, who  lived in
Swakopmund - Namibia

VJ the quiet man – who had a passion for nature!

VJ’S beloved Namib Coast, near Swakopmund where he spent all his ‘Off Time’ trying to catch a fish. . . 'Magic Moments' he use to call em – "Being out here, talking to my GOD, never catching much, but every moment is magic. . . " [Here VJ is giving a few words of wisdom to his daughter Donna]

VJ’S 77th birthday on top of the Hidden Valley – OKONJIMA’S highest point. A birthday wish come true for VJ! Steve (Donna’s partner) flew VJ in a long-ranger helicopter, to the top of the highest mountain on OKONJIMA for a very special Birthday – his last one! The OKONJIMA family carried breakfast to the top and then waited for His Highness to arrive. . . .