John Michael Hansen

Our beloved husband, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, passed from this life Tuesday, November 20, 2018.   Mike was born March 30, 1941 to Ellis L. and Melba Davis Hansen in Salt Lake City, Utah.   He married Laurel (Millett) on February 22, 1991.   He is survived by his wife, Laurel, his brother and sister-in-law Paul and Patricia Hansen, and his two nephews Shawn and Shad Hansen and their families. He is also survived by many cousins and their families as well as members of Laurel’s extended family.  He was a member of the LDS Church.
Mike was a proud member of the first graduating class of Highland High School in 1959.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the College of Pharmacy, at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1964, and was a lifelong Utes fan.
Mike began his 40 plus year career in Pharmacy as a Staff Pharmacist at Erickson Pharmacy, Walgreens and Skaggs Drug Center through 1975.  He then became Pharmacy Manager at Skaggs Drug Center, Osco Drug, Payless Drug and Rite Aid in Salt Lake City, from 1975 to 1994.  By the mid 90’s he had become  frustrated with the retail chain pharmacy model and decided to pursue other options which led him to Health Maintenance, Inc., where he worked from 1994 – 1996.  HMI was a mental health organization/closed door pharmacy that specialized in treating Schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.  Stadtlanders Pharmacy in Pennsylvania soon bought HMI and closed the Salt Lake City office.  Mike then joined Kindred Pharmacy Services;  another closed door pharmacy and worked there from 1996 to 2005 when he officially retired.
A dear friend and next door neighbor in Cottonwood Heights, Bill Cooper, came over to see Mike one day and asked him how he liked retirement.  Mike said “it was not all that it was cracked up to be,”  so Bill suggested that Mike give his son-in-law, Jeff Nichols a call, because he needed a pharmacist at his closed door pharmacy,  Palliative Care Pharmacy.  Mike worked for Jeff from 2006 – 2010.   Jeff sold his business to his brother and Mike stayed on part time through August 2011, when he could no longer work due to his illness.
Mike was professionally affiliated with the following organizations:  Utah Pharmaceutical Association from 1964 – 2011,   University of Utah Alumni Association from 1964 up to his passing.  He was a member of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary from 1978 – 1985 and was a pharmacy advisor at the Bullfrog Medical Clinic in Bullfrog, Utah from 1978 – 1980.
Mike loved to stay on top of things. . .news, science, medicine, what have you,  and so he subscribed and read cover to cover many scientific, medical and pharmacy journals.  He also loved the Salt Lake Tribune.  He loved and enjoyed reading Mark Twain. Carl Sagan and anything from Dr. Seuss to Louis L’Amour to Dean Koontz.  He loved going to the Utah Symphony whenever we could through the years and we became season ticket holders for five years before he became ill.   Mike also loved new age music, and classic rock and roll.   He loved to ski in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons in his younger days but did not ski much after work became too hectic. He loved animals, and had many cherished pets.   Hayduke  and Rigger his beloved dogs passed on many years ago and his most recent favorite was his little cat Lexi who survives him.  He loved Southern Utah and Lake Powell and spent as much time as he could at the lake from 1964 through 1999.  He loved to travel and we saw many beautiful places together that are now cherished memories.
Our almost 10 year journey with Lewy Body Dementia has been a challenge unlike any other we have been through.  There are so many people who have been part of this journey with us that it is almost impossible to thank every one of them for their phenomenal care and support of Mike during his illness so we list them here to thank them and offer our appreciation:
Dr. Jon Pertab at IMC who initially told us that Mike ‘probably’ had LBD.
Dr. Charles Fehlauer and staff at Silverado Memory Care Center in Holladay, Utah who took care of Mike for four months.  Dr. Fehlauer is an amazing and dedicated Doctor of Geriatric Medicine who referred us to Dr. Rodolfo Savica, from the Mayo Clinic who worked briefly as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Neurology at the University of Utah.  Dr. Savica officially diagnosed Mike with Lewy Body Dementia and Parkinsonism.  He treated him for about a year and after he left, Jeanette Sherman, APRN, continued to monitor and treat Mike until last year.
Dr. Leigh A. Thompson, Alta View Senior Clinic, Mike’s primary care physician and a tireless cheerleader for the aging population she serves.
Dr. Scott Updyke, an amazing Dentist whose unique skills and style along with his wonderful staff saved the day for many of Mike’s dental issues.
Dr. Scott Clark, DPM – amazing Podiatrist and his wonderful staff who took care of Mike’s feet for seven years.
The last sixteen months of Mike’s life was spent in two Memory Care facilities.  He was at Pheasant Run Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in South Jordan, Utah from August to December 2017 where the dedicated staff took care of him.  Special thanks to Michelle, Alesha, Bart and Brooke and all other staff members who made every effort to make his time there as comfortable as possible.
The last eleven months Mike has lived at Canyon Creek Memory Care in Midvale, Utah. . .a truly wonderful facility where the whole crew. . .especially all of the AMAZING and wonderful CNA’s, aides, program directors, med techs and others became our family.   We are so grateful to the outstanding and loving administrative staff, Tyler, Misty, Jun, Diane, Ashley, Carlos, Stacie, Jaycee (with a nod to Bill who moved on in other directions) who strive to make this care center the extraordinary place that it is for the residents and for their families who visit.
Heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the Rocky Mountain Hospice medical staff, Dr. Millard and Dr. Newman,  Jeremy his personal RN, Juan, his personal aide, Paula, his Social Worker, Jody, his Chaplain and on call nurses Valerie and Marlee. You have all been simply awesome!
And last but not the least…many humble thanks and heart felt prayers to all the families of other residents and the residents themselves who we also came to know and love.  It is a journey of mutual support and love no matter who you are.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, November 27, 2018 @ 11:00 am at Mountain View Memorial Cemetery, 3115 East 7800 South, Cottonwood Heights, Utah
Service Information

Graveside Service
November 27, 2018 at 11:00 AM
3115 East 7800 South, Cottonwood Heights, Utah