Jean Hanson

COTTAGE GROVE-Jean Carol Hanson, age 91, passed away on Sunday, June 19, 2016, at Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge with her children by her side. Jean was born November 2, 1924, to George and Katherine Mauer Doerfer. She grew up on the family farm in Verona and married George Hanson on November 7, 1945. After settling on a farm in Cottage Grove, they were blessed with five children, Larry, Sandra, Darlene, Tom and Leonard. Jean and George were married for 52 years until George passed in 1997. Along with working on the family farm and raising her family, Jean was secretary at Hope Lutheran Church for more than 30 years. She was an expert seamstress, making many of her own clothes, and taught crochet classes at MATC. Jean spent hours hand-sewing dozens of furry slippers for her grandchildren each Christmas and looked forward to watching them scramble into the pile to choose their favorite pair. She loved to garden and canned a variety of fruits, vegetables and sauces for family and friends. Several of her grandchildren have followed in her footsteps, starting gardens and canning for their own families. Everyone was welcome at the Hanson's and no one ever left hungry. Jean kept her freezer stocked with cakes, soups, casseroles, brownies, cookies and dinner rolls. She made the best Hot Cross Buns at Easter, spent days preparing her "can't ever have enough" stuffing at Thanksgiving and baked traditional Norwegian Krumkake and Pfeffernusse (Peppernuts) at Christmas. Volunteering was important to Jean and she enjoyed helping out at Second Harvest. She also worked at the Alliant Center, where her favorite job was ushering at concerts, Monster Truck Rallies and the World Dairy Expo. She worked there well into her 80's, saying it kept her young. Jean always seemed to be heading out the door. She'd say, "If someone asks you to go somewhere, GO!" She rarely turned down an invitation. Everyone joked that she had a busier social life than her grandchildren! She looked forward to visiting family and friends in Arizona every fall. When it came to ice cream, Jean just could not say no. It didn't matter what time of day or whether she had just finished a big dinner, she'd say, "I could eat some ice cream." The biggest decision Jean had to make was whether she wanted it in a cone, a dish, or a root beer float! Jean was immensely proud of her family and never missed a chance to attend their special events and activities. Whether it was a soccer game or a concert when they were younger or their high school and college graduations, Jean was there for her grandchildren. It didn't matter that four of her five children and their families lived outside Wisconsin, she was there. She got a kick out of explaining how one year she was able to attend three graduations or parties in three different states in one day! Jean spent Memorial Day weekend with her usual busy schedule, a graduation, a birthday party, a visit to the Union Terrace, watched the Monona Parade, tended to her flowers and tomatoes and enjoyed pizza for lunch with an ice cream cone for dessert. She went home looking forward to the week ahead. In the early morning hours of May 31st, however, she suffered a stroke. Jean Hanson may have been small in stature, but she had a huge heart, an extraordinary spirit and was steadfast in her faith. She lived her life to the fullest and we were blessed to have had her in ours. Jean is survived by her five children, Larry (Peg) Hanson of Phoenix, Ariz., Sandra Wallace of Rockford, Ill., Darlene (Rick) Alton of Rock Falls, Ill., Tom (Linda) Hanson of Madison, Wis., and Leonard (Maureen) Hanson of Hudson, Iowa; thirteen grandchildren, Amy (Cliff) Kujala, Brett and Alison Hanson; Aaron Wallace, Becca (Cornell) Blake, Jonathan (Kacie) Alton, Stephanie (Tony) Russo, Caitlin (Brian) Moore, Eric Hanson (Liz Falk), Ben (Jill) Hanson, Alexis (Eric) Hauber, Samantha (Mike) Barrett and Chelsea (Zach) Griffith; and fourteen great-grandchildren, Payson and Parker Kujala, Adelynn and Asher Blake, Mason, Ian and Carson Alton, Caden, Devan and Olivia Russo, Finn Moore, Teagan Hanson and Sydney and Gabrielle Barrett. She was very excited about welcoming the family's first set of twins to Becca and Cornell Blake in October. Jean is also survived by her brother, Richard Doerfer; sisters, Joyce Hermanson and Doris (Robert) Davis; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at HOPE LUTHERAN CHURCH, 3702 County Highway AB, McFarland, at 11 a.m., on Friday, June 24, 2016. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., on Thursday, June 23, 2016, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Friday. Memorials can be made in Jean's name to Second Harvest Food Bank or to Hope Lutheran Church. The family would like to thank the compassionate staff at Oakwood and Agrace HospiceCare during the last few weeks. They would also like to express their gratitude to Dr. Albert Musa for his many years of devoted care to our mother and grandmother. He was much more than her doctor. He was, and is, a dear family friend. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420