David Wallace Henry Hansen

David Wallace Henry Hansen's Life Story

David Wallace Henry Hansen, 87, passed peacefully of natural causes on August 25, 2025 at his home in Sun Lakes, AZ. Born January 13, 1938, in Boone, Iowa, to Margaret Ruth Holloman Henry and Lester Henry. David moved to Sparks, Nevada in 1940 with his mother and stepfather Oliver Hansen before moving to Arizona in the mid 1990s.

A gifted musician, a master teacher, a tireless champion for students, a dedicated public servant, David’s life bridged the arts, education, service, and community building. He graduated from Sparks High School in 1956 (where he said the only thing he learned was how to type.) He earned his bachelor’s degree in political science in 1960 from University of Nevada, Reno—where he also completed his master’s degree in education in 1966. While at UNR he served as the president of the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. Later he earned his Ph.D from Pacific Western University in 1988.

David performed professionally across Nevada from the 1950s through the 1970s, earning a reputation as a versatile and well-loved jazz musician whose stage presence lit up resorts, high school dances, and weddings alike. He was known for his gifted piano skills, playing mainly from memory, but also played the trumpet, trombone, bass guitar, organ, accordion, violin, ukulele, and drums. His love of music could be seen and heard in his home where his living room contained two grand pianos, an organ, and a drum set. He was seen on occasion playing

the piano and trumpet simultaneously and conducting a Monday night family band. After moving to Arizona, he performed as the pianist for the Alpine Community Theater productions for several summers.

In the late 1950s, David answered a call to serve in the Air National Guard, where he served as a cook feeding the pilots doing photo recon, an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to civic duty and teamwork.

That spirit carried him into education leadership, where he was elected to serve two terms on the Nevada State Board of Education in the 1970s, working to expand opportunity for young people across the state. In Washoe County, he was an early education innovator as a principal of multiple elementary schools, notably Andersen elementary, helping bring the Suzuki violin program into district schools and advancing year-around schooling— efforts that reflected his belief that every child deserves both rigorous academics and rich arts education.

During his senior year of college, he met Joy Anna Mathews at church, and they were married on April 1, 1960, in the L.A. Temple. Together they raised three daughters, Stephanie, Natasha, and Nicole in their home in Reno. David and Joy made travel a part of their daughters’ education including excursions throughout the U.S., Europe and a family trip to Egypt and Israel where they climbed the Cheops pyramid together and retraced the steps of Christ. In addition, they regularly camped in the California

Sequoia National Forest in their red VW Bus and spent summers together at Lake Tahoe. David and Joy were married for 33 years when Joy passed away in 1993 of pancreatic cancer.

David continued his love of education by serving as a Gospel Doctrine teacher in his local ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints both in Reno and Phoenix for many years. He often noted it was the hours spent preparing his Sunday lessons that developed his strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He also served as a counselor in the bishopric in Reno in the 1980’s along with other church leadership roles throughout his life.

David also made a tangible mark on Northern Nevada as a real-estate developer, playing a role in one of the state’s first time-share projects, Club Tahoe at Incline Village—part of the region’s broader mid-century growth that opened Lake Tahoe vacations to more families. He approached development as he did everything else: with vision, energy, and a focus on creating places where people could gather, rest, and make memories.

While in Phoenix visiting Nicole who was in court reporter school, David was set up on a blind date with Linda Turley, a long time Phoenix primetime anchor at KPHO-TV5. They married a year later, October 1994.

A highlight in their lives, David and Linda kept an apartment for nearly a dozen years in Salt Lake City where

David served as a temple worker in the Salt Lake City Temple. David and Linda were also sealed in the Salt Lake Temple

by the apostle Elder Uchtdorf in 2005.

David was most proud of his service as a senior missionary with his wife Linda in Slovenia in the Adriatic North Mission from 2015-2016. There he served as a branch president and hosted two of his teenage granddaughters – Joy & Bianca who served mini-missions in Slovenia.

David or “Papa” to his grandchildren, loved to shower them with his time and love. Always eager to attend school plays and events and treat them to doughnuts or a new watch, Papa loved being a grandfather and his summers with the grandkids in their Alpine cabin roasting marshmallows, jamming together on ukuleles, feeding Big Mac the chipmunk, and reading “The Ransome of Red Chief”.

Beyond public titles and projects, David will be remembered for who he was— generous, good-humored, and unfailingly supportive of others. He loved a fine melody, a bargain, Invicta Watches, and seafood buffets. As an educator, father, and grandfather his impact can be felt by thousands whom he taught to read, play music, and love Jesus Christ.

David is survived by his wife, Linda; his four daughters and three sons; his 16 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren who were his greatest joy as well as three sisters and three brothers. He was preceded in death by family members who welcomed him home with love.

A memorial will be held in the Reno– Sparks area next spring to honor his many Nevada roots.