Virginia Hanson
Virginia Hanson, age 72, of Decorah died Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 28 at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church, Decorah, with Rev. Adam Starrett presiding. Burial was in the church cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the family at 1349 Coon Creek Road, Decorah, IA 52101.
Virginia Jean Hanson was born August 14, 1949 in Waukon to Melvin and Oretta Ellefson Hill. On the very same day of her birth, the Allamakee County Fair was in full swing and her father, Melvin, decided to run to the fair while her mother was in the hospital waiting to give birth; Oretta was not happy! Sam Hill, her uncle, has said he remembers when Virginia was brought home from the hospital.
Raised on the family farm, she did many different farm chores, including picking strawberries that her grandfather grew, along with watermelons and cantaloupe. Her first nine years of schooling were at the French Creek 3 Country School. She then started Waukon High School as a freshman in 1964, graduating in May 1967.
In April 1967 she met Lyle Hanson; they were engaged November 30, 1968. They were married June 7, 1969 at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church in Decorah. From this union was born three sons, Kevin, Jason and Aaron.
Virginia started working at the Lansing Button Factory in 1967, and she remained at this job until she was married and then stayed home to raise her children. In 1980, she started doing in-home daycare for the Lee family, watching their three girls, followed by the Teslow, Loven and Petersburg children. Each of these kids held a special place in her heart and she cared for them like they were her own.
When she was young, her goal was to be a secretary. She had asked for a desk and got one for Christmas, along with a typewriter, from her parents and grandparents (paid for with Gold Bond Stamps). She ultimately fulfilled that goal when she returned to school at Northeast Iowa Community College in 1990 (at the age of 40) and graduated from the clerical program a year later. She talked often of this challenge and was very proud of all the hard work she put in to accomplish it!
In March of 1991 she began as the church secretary at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah along with another part-time position in the Career Center at Luther College. She split the day between these two jobs for over 21 years and made many good friends during this time. She retired from Luther in 2012 and from Good Shepherd in 2014. From 2015 to 2020 she worked for Kirkeby Welding.
In 2018 she started in a temporary role at Iowa Vocation Rehabilitation Services and eventually transitioned to a full-time position until she was forced by her illness to retire in the fall of 2020. She loved this job and wished she had found it many years sooner.
She was active at Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church, serving as the congregation’s Treasurer from 1985 to 2020 in addition to working the annual Harvest Supper and at Nordic Fest. In addition, she and Lyle spent several summers with the Decorah Kilties during Jason and Aaron’s time in the percussion sections from 1985 to 1991. She was always willing to help anyone in need and just wanted to make sure they got the best out of life.
She and Lyle were able to travel to Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and Williamsburg, VA with Don and Martha Hanson and Sharon and Butch Tomczak. With their children, they ventured to Yellowstone National Park, Wisconsin Dells, Lake of the Ozarks and Anna Maria Island, FL.
In her younger years, Virginia learned how to decorate cakes with her Aunt Bette, and she eventually created many wedding, confirmation and birthday cakes for others. She loved to shop at antique shops and The Depot to find the next treasure.
With all the great things she had ever done in her life, her grandchildren were at the top. She enjoyed every second she could with them and never passed up a chance to go and watch their events.
Virginia is survived by her husband, Lyle Hanson of Decorah; her sons, Kevin (Liz) Hanson of Waukon, Jason (Angie) Hanson of North Liberty and Aaron (April) Hanson of Greene; her grandchildren, Shelby (Ben) Ewing, Connor (Kate) Hanson, Ryan Hanson, Kellen Hanson, Finn Hanson, Calvin Hanson, Jack Hanson, Sawyer Hanson and Brooklyn Hanson; her great-grandson, Emmitt Ewing; her siblings, Ronnie Olson, Vickie Kriener and Wes Hill of Waukon, and Wayne (Anna) Hill of Postville; her in-laws, Paul Hanson of Waukon, Donald (Martha) Hanson of Decorah, Sharon (Butch) Tomczak of Madison, WI and Robert Hanson of Waukon; along with many nieces and nephews; as well as her dog, Henry.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Melvin and Oretta Hill; her mother- and father-in-law, Carmen and Clarice Hanson; and her brothers-in-law, Carmen Jr. Hanson, Roger Hanson and David Olson.
