Hanna, Eldora Josephine (1921-2012)

HANNA, CHRISTIANSON, PAULSON, GRUNHOVD

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 11/24/2012 at 15:46:32

Eldora Josephine Hanna
June 17, 1921 - November 6, 2012

DECORAH - Eldora Josephine Christianson Hanna, 91, of Decorah, previously of Woden, died Tuesday, November 6, 2012, at the Winneshiek County Hospice in Decorah.

Eldora Josephine Christianson Hanna, loving wife of Donald and mother of two adoring daughters, Ruth (Lynn) Paulson, of Madison, Wisconsin, and Rebecca Hanna, of Decorah, Iowa, died on November 6, 2012, in Decorah, Iowa. Described as a “sweet, gentle woman” and a “courageous individual,” she lived up to that reputation until the very end when she succumbed to congestive heart failure. She died with the utmost of class, dignity, and courage.

Born on June 17, 1921, to Joseph and Elma Grunhovd Christianson in Scarville, Iowa, she graduated at only sixteen years of age from Scarville High in 1938 and received a teaching certificate from Waldorf College in 1940 when only 18 years old. She taught at rural schools, Linden #9 and Grant #7 in Winnebago County as well as at Moorland and Garner. She married Donald Hanna on February 18, 1949. Following time off to raise her daughter, she returned to teaching in Woden. Eldora earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mankato State University in 1971. In 1984, she retired from Woden-Crystal Lake after teaching for a total of thirty-three years.

Eldora received the Outstanding Elementary Teacher Award in 1975. She was quoted saying at her retirement: “Teaching has never seemed like a job to me: it has always been something I have enjoyed. It is so rewarding to see children grow in learning.”

Eldora co-founded a neighborhood group called KYN (Know Your Neighbor). She was an active member of Grant Lutheran Church in rural Woden, serving in such roles as Church Council Treasurer, WELCA President, Deacon, Secretary/Treasurer of her circle, and Sunday School Teacher. In addition, she was a member of the American Legion Auxilary in Woden and a member of the Iowa Retired School Personnel Association. She and Donald were active in Nordic 502 Sons of Norway, the Kum Along Club, and Forest City Senior Citizens. In 2003, she received a Golden Membership Pin from the Sons of Norway for her thirty years in that organization. Donald and Eldora loved to travel in their motor home and spent several winters with Donald's siblings in Arizona. They also traveled several times to Norway to visit family and friends.

After a number of years on the farm after Donald's passing, she moved to Decorah, Iowa, to be closer to her two daughters. She resided at Vennehjem and become active in RSVP serving the Decorah Library and the Decorah Genealogical Library. She became a life member of Vesterheim. A member of Glenwood Lutheran Church, she participated in circle activities there. In June of 2012, she moved to Aase Haugen Assisted Living and recently into its nursing home.

Special thanks go to Dr. Dougan and Sandy who assisted Eldora through her health battles, to the staff and residents of Aase Haugen's Vennehjem, Assisted Living and Nursing Home, who cared for this family in a multitude of ways, and to the Winneshiek County Hospice which provided support and education. Her daughters are so appreciative of their efforts!

Eldora was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Elma Hanna Christianson; her husband, Donald; her brother, Richard; and her nephew, David. May they all be together once again!

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 5:30 PM, Friday, November 9, 2012, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark St., Forest City, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 10, 2012, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Woden with Rev. Robert Wolfert officiating.
Burial will be at Grant Township Cemetery in rural Woden.

Contributions in memory of Eldora may be made to any of her many causes: World Hunger, the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, the Decorah Genealogical Association, or to the Aase Haugen Fund in Memory of Eldora Hanna for items that would make a significant difference in residents’ lives.

Copyright © 2012, Petersen Lund Funeral Home

Petersen Lund Funeral Home
 

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