“Positive
Vibes Only”
No one in his family was surprised if on a weekend, Leif Hansen would say, “Let’s go! Everyone jump in the car.” And then they would take off to an unknown destination.
The trip might be close, like heading in from the suburbs to visit his father’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery and then off to tour the Washington, D.C. monuments. Or it might even be a vacation farther afield, but his wife, Jen, and their two children, Taylor and Leif III, loved these last-minute adventures.
A balancing act
This spontaneity was balanced by a more methodical, conservative side when it came to finances. “Leif always wanted us to sit down together on the first of the month to discuss finances. He wanted me to be mentally invested,” says Jen. That’s also why the couple met with a financial professional and made sure they had the right amount of life insurance in place.
This kind of preventative mindset is also what led him to do an elective CAT scan. His father had suffered a heart attack at 51, and Leif wanted to take the right steps to avoid the same fate. The scan was all clear on the cardiac front, but it did reveal multiple cancerous tumors throughout his body.
A valiant fight
Leif fought against the cancer but was determined to live as normally as possible. His mantra was, “Positive vibes only,” which was on a sweatshirt his brother had gifted him at the start of his cancer journey. He continued working and the family focused on the things they loved like playing sports, taking vacations and spending time together. Unfortunately, after 13 months, Leif’s battle ended at the age of 53.
Jen and the kids still feel the incredible loss. And while nothing can replace him, Leif’s legacy lives on financially through his life insurance. “When Leif passed, my 13-year-old asked if we’d have to move from our house, and I was able to assure him that would never happen,” says Jen. “Without the life insurance, our life would be completely different than it is today. I’m so thankful he made the decision to get it.”
“Without the life insurance our life would be completely different than it is today. I’m so thankful he made the decision to get it.”
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Life Happens does not endorse any insurance company, product, or financial professional.
© 2026 Life Happens. All rights reserved.
Life Happens partners can access the Content Library here.
For information on becoming a partner, click here.
Privacy Policy • Blog Policy • Contact Us • News
Life Happens does not endorse any insurance company, product, or financial professional.
© 2026 Life Happens. All rights reserved.