Mark was born on March 5, 1926 in Beaver Dam, the son of Neil B. and Mildred E. (Brown) Hansen. He was a graduate of Beaver Dam High School and University of Wisconsin-Madison. Mark proudly served his country in the United States Army in the Americal Division during World War II. He was onboard the maiden voyage of USS Fond du Lac, sailing to both Guam and the Philippines. Mark owned and operated Hansen's Mink Ranch in Beaver Dam. Mark was a member of St. Stephen's Ev. Lutheran Church and the John E. Miller American Legion Post 146. A Wisconsin Badgers football season ticket holder for many years, Mark was also a big Green Bay Packers fan. He regularly listened to WBEV radio and enjoyed going for car rides in the country with good friends Rob and Donna, doing crossword puzzles and reading.