Jens "John" Hansen 1871-1947

HANSEN, HANSON, HUSBY, OSTERLUND

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 3/18/2011 at 20:44:25

John [Jens] Hanson [Hansen], 75, Long-Time Tailor and Cleaner Dies
Mr. John Hanson was born May 15, 1871 to Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hanson. Their home was in Jutland, Denmark, on the Danish-German border. Here he received all his early training, and here he was also baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church. After completing his public school instruction he learned the tailoring trade and for a few years worked at that trade in both Denmark and in northern Germany. He left for the United States in the spring of 1893 coming first to Mankato, Minnesota. He worked here until February 1, 1894, and then moved to Estherville to work for one Mr. Hauge. On September 25th of that year he bought out this man’s business and set up a business for himself. In 1905 he expanded his business to include a dry-cleaning plant. John Hanson’s business has come to be one of the land-marks of Estherville and he has been highly esteemed by all his business associates. He was married September 11, 1911 to Anna Husby, and their home was blessed with three children: John of Estherville, Berna of Minneapolis and Harold of Fargo, North Dakota. He is survived by his wife and all of the three children, and also by six grandchildren. He is also survived by an older sister Dorthy, still living in Denmark. The only relatives living in America are a niece Mrs. Peter Osterlund, and a nephew, Carl Hanson, both of them living in New York.

John Hanson has been in failing health for a longer time, but did not quit work entirely until about nine months ago. He has spent the last many months in the hospital. Yet in many ways his months in the hospital became some of the richer months of his life. He did not complain of his lot, but rather recognized in each day an opportunity to witness of the joy he had come to know in the Gospel of salvation in Christ, and in the word of God which has been his daily companion. He passed away very quietly Saturday evening, January 11, at 9:30. He leaves a host of friends in this community.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 from the Sternborg Chapel and at 2:00 in the Estherville Lutheran Church, with the Rev. C. M. Hanson officiating. Burial was made in Oak Hill cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, January 16, 1947)