Irene "Granny" Hansen
August 13, 1923 — January 27, 2024
Irene "Granny" Hansen was born to Tenta (Christensen) and Carl Haferbier on August 13, 1923 in Sanborn, Minnesota. Irene attended grade school at the country school near Defiance, Iowa. She then attended Harlan High School where she graduated in 1942. She was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Harlan, Iowa.
Following graduation, Irene was a phone operator and worked at a variety store while making plans to marry the love of her life, Harry Hansen. They were married on August 17, 1945 in Longview, Texas. To this union, four children were born - Tom, Ted, Becky and Jane. When her children were grown, Irene found employment at the Harlan Schools as a school cook and kitchen manager for 20 years where she enjoyed her work and the children so much.
Raising her family was a central part of her life. She was always there for her family, and her arms were always open to welcome the neighborhood kids for whatever they needed. Her sense of humor and her laughter will always be remembered.
Irene was an exceptional seamstress, making clothes for her children and even their friends. She sewed all of the girls' formal dresses for school dances and countless school clothes. She also knitted, crocheted and embroidered and passed that skill on to her kids and friends. After retirement, along with these, she turned her attention to crafts, cross stitch, sewing and quilting. In 2013, at the Shelby County Fair, she was awarded Best of Show in needlework for her cross-stitch entry.
Irene passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at Salem Nursing Home in Elk Horn, Iowa where she had moved to in December from Tom's house. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Tenta Haferbier; husband, Harry Hansen; daughter, Becky Hansen; daughter-in-law, Connie Hansen; and sisters, Erna Paulsen and Etta Hulsebus.
She is survived by her children Tom Hansen of Harlan, IA; Ted (DeeAnne) Hansen of Farmington, MO; Jane (Dale) Washburn of Centennial, CO; grandchildren: Sean Hansen, Kris Kersten, John Hansen, Laura Lindsey, Andy Hansen, Derek Washburn, Kyle Washburn, Stephanie Brown; 18 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren.
In her senior-year high school yearbook, a quote was listed by each senior's picture. Irene's was "With no time to worry or to fret, Irene gets the joys life has to let." She actually lived by that always saying that she didn't worry about anything because it wouldn't change a thing. That was Irene.
Following graduation, Irene was a phone operator and worked at a variety store while making plans to marry the love of her life, Harry Hansen. They were married on August 17, 1945 in Longview, Texas. To this union, four children were born - Tom, Ted, Becky and Jane. When her children were grown, Irene found employment at the Harlan Schools as a school cook and kitchen manager for 20 years where she enjoyed her work and the children so much.
Raising her family was a central part of her life. She was always there for her family, and her arms were always open to welcome the neighborhood kids for whatever they needed. Her sense of humor and her laughter will always be remembered.
Irene was an exceptional seamstress, making clothes for her children and even their friends. She sewed all of the girls' formal dresses for school dances and countless school clothes. She also knitted, crocheted and embroidered and passed that skill on to her kids and friends. After retirement, along with these, she turned her attention to crafts, cross stitch, sewing and quilting. In 2013, at the Shelby County Fair, she was awarded Best of Show in needlework for her cross-stitch entry.
Irene passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at Salem Nursing Home in Elk Horn, Iowa where she had moved to in December from Tom's house. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Tenta Haferbier; husband, Harry Hansen; daughter, Becky Hansen; daughter-in-law, Connie Hansen; and sisters, Erna Paulsen and Etta Hulsebus.
She is survived by her children Tom Hansen of Harlan, IA; Ted (DeeAnne) Hansen of Farmington, MO; Jane (Dale) Washburn of Centennial, CO; grandchildren: Sean Hansen, Kris Kersten, John Hansen, Laura Lindsey, Andy Hansen, Derek Washburn, Kyle Washburn, Stephanie Brown; 18 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren.
In her senior-year high school yearbook, a quote was listed by each senior's picture. Irene's was "With no time to worry or to fret, Irene gets the joys life has to let." She actually lived by that always saying that she didn't worry about anything because it wouldn't change a thing. That was Irene.
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