Virginia Ruth (Swanson) HANZE

HANZE, SIVERLY, SWANSON, BJELLA, ERICKSON, KNIGHT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/1/2008 at 19:24:37

Burlington Hawk Eye, Iowa
ca. January 2006

Virginia Ruth Hanze, 72, of Mount Pleasant, formerly of Swedesburg, died Friday Jan. 13, 2006, at her home in Mount Pleasant. Born June 2, 1933, in Belmond, she was the daughter of Sigfred T. and Nina Ruth Siverly Swanson. On Aug. 7, 1955, she married Roger Hanze in Swedesburg. He died on Nov. 29, 1995. Mrs. Hanze was a teacher in Clarence for one year and did substitute teaching after that. She was a 1950 graduate of Olds High School and a 1954 graduate of the Iowa Teachers College in Cedar Falls. She was a former member of the Mount Pleasant Women's Club, a former Waco Music Booster member, and a former Tuesday morning Bible Study member. She was an active volunteer at both Sunrise Terrace Care Center in Winfield and the Burlington Parkinson's Support Group. She was a member of the Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church and church–related organizations. She was known for her love of a big garden.

Survivors include one daughter, Joni Bjella of DeLand, Fla.; two sons, Rodney Hanze of Iowa City and Dan Hanze of Waukee; four grandchildren; and two sisters, Delores Erickson of Maquoketa and Betty Knight of Iowa City. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Honts Funeral Home in Winfield, with family meeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Swedesburg Evangelical Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Philip Borleske officiating. Burial will follow at the Swedesburg Church Cemetery. Memorials have been established for the Swedesburg Lutheran Church and the National Parkinson's Foundation.