RIP, ANTHONY

Anthony Rulon Hansen | 1984 - 2020 | Obituary

Anthony Rulon Hansen

May 31, 1984 - March 04, 2020

Share this obituary
  

Anthony Rulon Hansen was born on a stormy spring morning on May 31, 1984, Orem, Utah to Don R. Hansen and Brenda Kitchen Hansen. He passed away March 4, 2020 in Sandy, Utah. He is a beloved husband, father, son, brother, grandson, uncle and friend who will be greatly missed!

His young life in Alpine, Utah was filled with great friends, lots of cousins, bike rides, swimming pools, untold adventures and playing all the sports available. He had a beautiful smile, a tender heart and darling freckled face.

In 1997 his family moved to Cedar City, Utah where he made more great friends, had more adventures, continued playing sports and spent time going back forth to Alpine to maintain cherished friendships.

Anthony graduated Cedar High School in 2002 and was on to his next adventure. He graduated in 2004 from Le Cordon Bleu, Las Vegas, Nevada with an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. He shared his cooking knowledge the rest of his life with anyone who would listen.

In 2006 he joined the National Guard and completed Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He completed an Associates Russian Studies degree at the DLI, where he learned to speak Russian, and received additional training in interrogation and human intelligence. Anthony was a certified digital forensic expert having certified as an Encase First Responder, Encase Computer Forensics I & II, Cellebrite UFED Physical Examiner, Cellebrite UFED Mobile Device Examiner, and DOD Deployable Forensics. Shortly after completing this training, he served as an instructor at Camp Williams in Utah.

Anthony was a proud veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he served as a human intelligence collector. He enjoyed telling many stories of his time spent overseas and was very proud to have served his country.

While in the military he met Krista Schaeffer. They married and brought two amazing boys into the world. Though he and Krista later divorced, his sons, Aiden and Ryden, remained a very bright light in his life. He loved being with them and enjoyed watching them learn and grow. He loved them with all his heart and wanted nothing more than for “his boys” to experience all the joys of this life.

Anthony married his best friend and soulmate, Jamie Nicole Hansen on October 9, 2018. He loved her dearly and was always happiest when she was by his side. She was with him through good times and bad and brought him the peace and comfort that he was looking for.

Anthony had a very close special relationship with his father who he casually called “Don” or “Pops." His dad was with him every step of his life’s journey and there is an unbreakable, incredible, eternal bond between them.

Anthony had many talents. He was a gifted writer, artisan woodworker, cook, handyman, and taught himself to play guitar. He was a dog whisperer and had the ability to connect with dogs on an entirely different level than the rest of us. We will miss listening to his intricate stories, told with detail and enthusiasm, his great smile, contagious laugh, sense of humor, his amazing cooking and the funny memes he would share.

He was a hopeless romantic, kind, enduring, thoughtful, hilarious, intelligent, insanely curious, interesting, unique, witty, stubborn, crazy, sweet, unlike anyone you have ever met. Jamie often said that his heart was two sizes too big.

Anthony is survived by his wife Jamie, his sons Aiden and Ryden, his parents Don and Brenda Hansen, his siblings, Alexis (Kris) Newville, Drew (Jill Cox) Hansen, Taylor (Heather) Hansen, Matthew (Megan) Hansen, Melissa (Miles) Murri, Trevin (Ciera) Hansen, Mitchell Hansen, nieces, nephews, step-daughter Kyla, and beloved best friends Bruce, Dexter, and Banner.

Anthony loved his family and always hoped and prayed for their success and happiness. He was interested in the details of their lives and loved being with them every chance he could.

His wife Jamie shares: “If you knew Anthony, consider yourself lucky! For me his wife, I felt like the luckiest person alive. I also feel robbed of more precious time to be with him. My love, you are finally free of the pains and trials of this life and are in the arms of a loving Heavenly Father. You are a unique soul. People were naturally drawn to you and you had a selfless ability to help them with the struggles and worries of this life.”

Addiction and PTSD are part of Anthony’s story. He never gave up the fight. He waged full battle and would want to bring awareness to these challenging issues with the sincere hope of saving even just one life.

We know we will see Anthony again and will embrace him with joy and love!

Until then “Anth”, “Nener”, “Nene” we miss you.

It was Anthony’s wish to be cremated. Shortly after his passing a private family service was held.

Anthony was one of my favorites! He was soooo kind, smart, and a friend to all!  Anthony was also 

special because of who his parents were . . . Don & Brenda Kitchen Hansen.  They were both

classmates of mine!  I met Don in 7th grade.  Don went to Alpine Elementary as a student, having

teachers that I taught with!  Brenda and I met in 2nd grade, and we were classmates since then!

Not only classmates, we were in Mrs. Earl's dance class together!  Me, Renae, Lynnell, Carol, and

Brenda!  Lynnell and Brenda could do the tap dance with jump ropes.  Me, Renae, and Carol, epic

fail!!!  Brenda & I were also in the same ward growing up!  American Fork 10th Ward, from 1st grade

to 9th grade.  Then, our ward was split.  

I was soooo excited when Anthony was in my class, because of the connection with his parents!

He was in my 1994-1995 class.
RIP, Anthony!