HANSON, Gertrude Theresa (Berge) 1921-1999

PETERSON, BERGE, HANSON, KNOWLTON

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 10/2/2010 at 16:57:22

Decorah Journal, Thursday, Nov. 4, 1999

Gertrude Theresa Hanson

Gertrude Hanson, 78, of West Union, died Friday, Oct. 29, 1999, at Palmer Lutheran Hospital after a brief struggle with colon cancer.

Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church in West Union, with the Revs. Claudia Tessmer and Fred Tessmer officiating.

Ushers were Balz Kamm, Jr. and Kenneth Springer. Organist was Barbara Temple and soloist was Dale Halverson.

Casket bearers were Jeff Berge, Clarence Hanze, Randy Fosaaen, Kenneth Johnson, Bertin Hansen and Steve Patchen.

Interment was at the West Union Cemetery. The Burnham-Wood Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Gertrude Theresa (Berge) Hanson was born Sept. 27, 1921, in Decorah, the daughter of A. Julius and Minnie (Peterson) Berge. She grew up on farms in the surrounding Decorah area with her parents, a brother, Joseph, and a sister, Eileen.

She was baptized Oct. 30, 1921, and confirmed June 9, 1935, both at Decorah Lutheran Church. She attended grade school in one-room country schools and high school in Decorah.

Her senior year was at Ossian High School, where Gertrude graduated in 1939. She played girls' basketball in Ossian, but unfortunately had to quit to help on her parent's farm a few weeks before the team qualified for the state tournament.

These were the years of the Great Depression, yet Gertrude spoke fondly of those years growing up, where an appreciation was gained of family time and simple pleasures.

On April 5, 1941, she married Howard P. Hanson at Decorah Lutheran Church. They moved to West Union, where Howard worked for the Post Office until he was called into World War II, where he served in Italy and North Africa.

It was not uncommon for the women to fill in for their husbands, so Gertrude then went to work at the Post Office.

After the war, the couple raised a family of four children, Harlan, Dennis, Marilyn and Gary. Gertrude worked at home raising them until all were in school. She then worked in Graham's Department Store for a number of years as a sales clerk.

Throughout the years, Gertrude also was a caregiver for various family members. She is remembered as working quietly and diligently at attending to basic needs, bringing comfort, and extending a loving and reassuring smile.

Gertrude continued to make West Union her home. A member of Zion Lutheran Church, she was active in Ladies Aid (WELCA), circle and "do day". She shared many happy and cherished times with lifelong friends through her church.

Survivors include her children and their families, Harlan and Barb Hanson and Becky, Heidi and Brian of Cedar Rapids, Dennis and Kathy Hanson of Geneva, Illinois, and Tara of Milwaukee, Wis., the Rev. Marilyn Hanson of Rochester, Minn., and Breanna and Meghan, and Gary Hanson of DeKalb, Illinois; one brother, Joseph and Inez Berge of Decorah; one sister, Eileen and Robert Knowlton of Coon Rapids, Minn.; and several nieces and nephews.

Gertrude Hanson was preceded in death by her parents, Minnie in 1975 and Julius in 1977; her husband Howard in 1984, and a daughter-in-law, Lisa (Gary) Hanson in 1990.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.