Gail Hansen

Gail Walter Hansen was born Dec. 30, 1930 to Max and Carrie Hansen in Missouri Valley, Iowa, the eldest of four children. He attended Logan Grade School then graduated from Logan High School and Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration. Shortly thereafter, he joined the U.S. Army at which time he served in the Korean War for three years and was honorably discharged in 1954. He moved to Las Vegas in 1956 where he would remain for the rest of his life. By day, Gail managed apartment buildings and invested in real estate. By night, he worked as a Baccarat dealer at the Las Vegas Hilton and dealt 21, Blackjack and Craps at the Sahara Las Vegas. This was also the time when he began his lifelong passion of classic Cadillacs. From procuring the cars to restoring the entire vehicle from the engine to its interior, his prized Cadillacs not only sold well in collectors’ auctions, they were also often featured in the news, event openings and movies such as “Casino.” His preferred signature models included Eldorado, Fleetwood, Coupe de Ville and Sedan de Ville.

During the ‘70s would also be when he met his wife of 20 years, Lavinia “Gigi” Valeriano Hansen. They had one daughter, Marina Guennevere Hansen Nicola. Together, they traveled the world. Because Gigi spoke 14 languages, they easily traveled from country to country throughout the ‘80s.

Later in his life, Gail became a grandfather and loved spending time with his grandchildren, his friends and his dachshunds with Cindy Lou being his final beloved companion.

Gail passed peacefully surrounded by family in his longtime Las Vegas home on July 28, 2021 at the age of 90 years, seven months and 28 days.

He is preceded in death by his parents, as well as his wife and brothers, Robert and Paul. He is survived by his sister, Joan  Fetter of Logan, Iowa; his daughter; his grandchildren, Alexander, Jasen, Robert and Mia Nicola of Las Vegas,  Nevada and his nieces and nephew, Tracy and Robin Hansen of Chicago, Illinois; Becky Alfrey of Deland, Florida; Kelly Hutson of Logan, Iowa; Sarah Toby of Winterville, Georgia; Rachel Snyder of Perry, Iowa and Beth Beavers of Grimes, Iowa and his great-nephews and nieces.