Larry Hansen

Larry George Hansen (1941–2026) Dr. Larry George Hansen, 84, professor emeritus of veterinary biosciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, found peace on April 8, 2026. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on July 16, 1941, to the late George E. and Clarissa M. “Babe” (Ducker) Hansen.

As a boy, Larry once ran a race against a young Gale Sayers - and finished second. He later attended Benson High School, where he was active in 4-H. As a scrappy freshman, he went out for the football team, but an injury cut his playing days short. He earned his BS in Biology from Creighton University, then spent his early career teaching high school in Malvern, Iowa before earning an MS in Chemistry from the University of Nebraska Omaha.

In 1966, Larry began his doctoral research at North Carolina State University under the mentorship of biochemist Ernest Hodgson. Their research into microsomal enzymes and metabolic pathways became the bedrock of his career. He earned his PhD in Entomology/Toxicology in 1970.

Also in 1966, not long after arriving in Raleigh, Larry had the great privilege of attending a speech by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at Reynolds Coliseum - an experience the avid photographer preserved on black-and-white film, photographs the family still treasures today.

After earning his PhD, Larry moved to Urbana, Illinois, with his wife Lynda and their daughter Lori. He joined the faculty of the College of Veterinary Medicine at UIUC, where he taught and conducted research for 36 years. There he became one of the world’s foremost experts on polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). His approach was characteristically rigorous: rather than treating PCBs as a single substance, he insisted on studying each of the 209 distinct compounds individually, revealing that they varied widely in how they accumulated in the body and what harm they caused. Working with colleagues across the country and abroad, he tracked how these chemicals move through the environment and into human populations. His work culminated in his 1999 book, The Ortho Side of PCBs: Occurrence and Disposition, contributing to the foundation of international environmental health policy.

Beyond the lab, Larry was an avid gardener-naturalist, lifelong coin and stamp collector, and a skilled poker player. He was a friend to all animals, rarely without a beloved dog at his side and anywhere from one to twenty cats in his orbit. A self-described “obtuse” equestrian, Larry kept and rode his horses until injury turned his attention - and his barn - to humbler critters. In his later years, he nurtured an extensive orchard and neighboring prairie, applying the same meticulous care to his local ecosystem as he had to his research.

He was a loving father, uncle, and grandfather known for his humor, spontaneous singing and dancing, and the occasional obscure literary quote. He took great joy in discussing biology, physics, and physiology with his grandson, Oskar. His dedication to the Chicago Cubs and Bears was no surprise - Larry always sided with the underdog.

He was a complex man who never stopped analyzing the world and was dedicated to leaving it a better place than he found it. He made sure to teach his children to strive for the same.

Larry is survived by his daughter, Lori Hansen (Michael Kramer); son, Eric Hansen (Jennifer); grandson, Oskar Hansen; brothers Neal (Sally Else), Lyle, and Terry "Pete" (Judy) Hansen; sister Judy Barber (Al); and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Lois Ronne and her husband Terry, his niece Michelle Ronne, and nephew Andrew Hansen.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic, https://vetmed.illinois.edu/hospital/wildlife-medical-clinic/, or the Champaign County Humane Society, https://www.cuhumane.org/.

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