Luise Adeleid (Voss) HANSON

HANSON, VOSS, KNOSPE, KOSCHADE, BAKER, HANNEMAN, JONES, BOLK, AYERS, PETERSON, SAGER, ROBINSON, STOUGAARD, WRIGHT, BOMAN, COE, NEIMAN, NELSON, BULMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/2/2016 at 15:58:29

June 7, 1913 ----- October 19, 2003

Former Forest City resident and co-founder of Winnebago Industries, Luise V. Hanson, 90, died on Sunday, October 19, 2003, at the Water's Edge Extended Care in Palm City, Florida. Funeral services were held on Friday, October 24, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City, with Rev. Lee Laaveg and Rev. Karl Nelson officiating. The Petersen Lund Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for one of the area's most philanthropic people.

Luise Adelheid, the daughter of Rev. C.E.G. and Marie (Knospe) Voss, was born on June 7, 1913 in Grundy County. She was baptized in her father's church in Parkersburg and later confirmed in Sheffield. She attended country school and graduated from the Sheffield High School in 1930. After graduation, she moved to Forest City where she met her future husband, John K. Hanson. The couple was united in marriage in the home of Mr. Hanson's parents, K. J. and Jennie Hanson on November 14, 1935. From 1935-1962, Luise was an active partner with her husband in the Hanson Furniture Store and Funeral Home. She was an integral part of the founding of Winnebago Industries in 1959. Her career with Winnebago included interior designer, was elected director and treasurer in 1965, elected director and vice president in 1967, elected director in 1968 and named Director Emeritus in 1981. She also served on the Board of Directors of Manufacturer's Bank and Trust in Forest City.

A life-long learner, Mrs. Hanson was a staunch supporter of education. She was the first woman elected to the Forest City School Board, serving from 1963 to 1966 and was named to the Forest City Education Hall of Fame in 1987. As a member of the Waldorf College Board of Regents from 1981-1999, she chaired the Advancement Committee and was a member of the Executive Committee. In recognition of her service to the college, Waldorf conferred on her the Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 1995. Mrs. Hanson personally supported many young people in their educational endeavors, including her partnership with the Neal Davis AFS Chapter in Forest City, and the Waldorf College Lutheran Leader's Program. Additionally, her public service included the Iowa Children's Home Board, the Handicap Village Board and the Riverside Bible Camp Board. The deep concern Mrs. Hanson had for the disadvantaged, for children and for the people of North Iowa will continue to live on through the John K. and Luise V. Hanson Foundation, established by her and her husband. It was her wish that the family foundation, in addition to the Winnebago Foundation, would continue to make a difference in the lives of people in the region for years to come. Along with her warm generosity and kindness, Mrs. Hanson will be remembered for her love of Christ and His church. She was a active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church since 1930, serving as a deaconess, Sunday School teacher, Luther League advisor and Circle Chairman.

Since her husband's death in 1996, Mrs. Hanson has resided near her children, most recently in Palm City, Florida. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband; and ten siblings, Ida Koschade, Alena (Alene) Voss, Paula Baker, Ludhilde (Lulu) Hanneman, Frida Voss, Harmina (Min) Jones, Hanna Bolk, Reinhard Voss, Maria (Marie) Ayers and Dorothea (Dorothy) Peterson; four sisters-in-law, Mildred Sager, Enid Robinson, Ruth Stougaard and Margaret Wright. She is survived by her children, Mary Jo (Gerald) Boman of Palm City, Florida, John V. (Carolyn) of Stuart, Florida and Paul D. Hanson of Marco Island, Florida; four grandchildren, Jane (Robert) Coe of Mukilteo, Washington, Greg (Becky) Boman of Castle Rock, Colorado, John J. Hanson of Coral Gables, Florida and Steve Neiman; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Jean Nelson of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Barbara Bulman of Forest City.

October 29, 2003
Forest City Summit -- Forest City, Iowa

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[Her husband, John K. Hanson was from Thor, Iowa]