Anna Hanson
Anna Lucille Hanson, former long-time resident of Postville, passed away August 22, 2021 at the Woodridge Supportive Living facility in Galesburg, IL at the age of 95. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Postville Friday, August 27. Interment followed at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lansing.
Lucille was born in Waukon to John and Mabel Huffman (Dougherty) of Rossville February 27, 1926. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Pius Catholic Church in nearby Cherry Mound and graduated from Waukon High School in 1943.
After graduation, she worked as a secretary at the Lansing button factory for 11 years. It was during this time that she met the love of her life, Ralph Hanson, who had just returned from Army service in the European Theater. After an eight-year courtship, they married June 19, 1954 at St. Pius Catholic Church, Cherry Mound. They started a family with Lucille as a housewife and Ralph partnering in a Lansing grocery store.
In 1963, they purchased Koevenig’s Variety in Postville, which eventually became Hanson’s Variety, a business icon in the town for over 30 years. During those years, Lucille did “double-duty” as housewife and working at the store during busier times of the year. They sold the business and retired in 1995.
As part of the “greatest generation,” she lived her life by the characteristics that defined that era; commitment, integrity, self-sacrifice, work ethic and personal responsibility. First and foremost, she was a devoted wife to Ralph and a caring mother to her four sons, Jeffery, Roger, Donn and Scott.
Lucille was a lifelong Catholic, devoted to St. Jude and the rosary, and active in the churches in both Lansing and Postville. Her pastimes included dancing, being on the river, collecting dolls and entertaining friends and family. After Ralph passed away in 1997, she continued to live in Postville for several years and eventually moved to Waukon.
Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; her parents, John and Mabel; her brothers, Creighton, Leroy, Cletus, Ray and Curtis; her sister, Alice; and her special friend and dancing partner, Jack Marsden.
She is survived by her sister, Maxine Campbell; her sons, Jeffrey (Ellen) of Cedar Rapids, Roger (LuAnn) of Monument, CO, Donn (Vicki) of Galesburg, IL and Scott (Daneen) of Ballwin MO; her grandchildren, Jennifer, Kimberly, Brett, Kelly, Amanda, Kristine and Michael; and her great-grandchildren, Keegan, Brayden and Joselyn. Lucille is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at Prairie Hills Assisted Living facility in Cedar Rapids and Woodridge Supportive Living facility in Galesburg, IL for the excellent care she received. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations are made to St. Bridget Catholic Church.
