Phyllis M. Hanson
March 29, 1921 — June 9, 2018
Phyllis Marie Hanson, daughter of Elmer and Minnie (Riesch) Kindschy, was born on March 29, 1921 in Montana Township in Buffalo County near Waumandee, Wisconsin, where she also attended grade school. She then attended Arcadia High School in Arcadia, Wisconsin where she graduated with the class of 1940.
On May 21, 1941, Phyllis was united in marriage to Clifford Hanson at the Salem Evangelical Church near Waumandee, Wisconsin. In November of 1941, Clifford accepted a position at the Harlan National Bank in Harlan, Iowa and this is where they moved and raised their three children: Leslie, Beverly and Bonnie. They joined the Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan and later they were charter members of Grace Baptist Church also in Harlan. Phyllis was very active in both churches as a preschool teacher and various ladies groups.
In 1942, Clifford was inducted into the United States Army and while he was serving his country during World War II, Phyllis remained at home to raise her son. Later she went to work at the Baptist Memorial Home in Harlan where she remained for over nine years. She then went to work at the Golden Rule in downtown Harlan and then in 1968 she started at Hy-Vee where she worked in the meat department until her retirement in 1984. Following her retirement, being the ambitious person she was, she started working part-time at Mickels with their catering crew and in the kitchen baking cookies and other food prep. She also enjoyed working with the Hospital Auxiliary in their Gift Shop at Myrtue Hospital during her retirement.
Phyllis always loved spending time with not only the children at church but also her grandchildren, great grandchildren and even her great-great grandchildren. She was known as a great cook and baker and was often credited with making the best homemade apple pies on earth. You rarely left her house without a good home cooked meal. She also enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers.
Phyllis died on June 9, 2018 at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa having attained the age of ninety-seven years, two months and eleven days. In addition to her parents, Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford and her son Leslie, two brothers, Gilbert and William, and one sister, Elaine.
She is survived by her daughters: Bev and her husband Roger Sorensen of Harlan and Bonnie and her husband Bill Weilage of Council Bluffs, Iowa; her grandchildren: Tim Hanson and his wife Carole of Geneva, Illinois; Cindy Hansson of San Jose, California; Melanie and her husband Clint McDonald of Logan, Iowa; Todd Sorensen and his wife Rachelle of Brentwood, Tennessee; Corey Sorensen and his wife Michelle of Harlan; Barry Sorensen and his wife Emily of Harlan; Tammy and her husband Eric Shaw of Omaha, Nebraska; Troy Weilage and his wife Heidi of Malvern, Iowa; Shad Weilage and his wife Lisa and Scott Weilage and his wife Grace both of Council Bluffs; thirty-eight great grandchildren; nine great-great grandchildren; her sister Audrey and her husband Wes Wichman of Littleton, Colorado; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
On May 21, 1941, Phyllis was united in marriage to Clifford Hanson at the Salem Evangelical Church near Waumandee, Wisconsin. In November of 1941, Clifford accepted a position at the Harlan National Bank in Harlan, Iowa and this is where they moved and raised their three children: Leslie, Beverly and Bonnie. They joined the Bethel Baptist Church in Harlan and later they were charter members of Grace Baptist Church also in Harlan. Phyllis was very active in both churches as a preschool teacher and various ladies groups.
In 1942, Clifford was inducted into the United States Army and while he was serving his country during World War II, Phyllis remained at home to raise her son. Later she went to work at the Baptist Memorial Home in Harlan where she remained for over nine years. She then went to work at the Golden Rule in downtown Harlan and then in 1968 she started at Hy-Vee where she worked in the meat department until her retirement in 1984. Following her retirement, being the ambitious person she was, she started working part-time at Mickels with their catering crew and in the kitchen baking cookies and other food prep. She also enjoyed working with the Hospital Auxiliary in their Gift Shop at Myrtue Hospital during her retirement.
Phyllis always loved spending time with not only the children at church but also her grandchildren, great grandchildren and even her great-great grandchildren. She was known as a great cook and baker and was often credited with making the best homemade apple pies on earth. You rarely left her house without a good home cooked meal. She also enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers.
Phyllis died on June 9, 2018 at the Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa having attained the age of ninety-seven years, two months and eleven days. In addition to her parents, Phyllis was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford and her son Leslie, two brothers, Gilbert and William, and one sister, Elaine.
She is survived by her daughters: Bev and her husband Roger Sorensen of Harlan and Bonnie and her husband Bill Weilage of Council Bluffs, Iowa; her grandchildren: Tim Hanson and his wife Carole of Geneva, Illinois; Cindy Hansson of San Jose, California; Melanie and her husband Clint McDonald of Logan, Iowa; Todd Sorensen and his wife Rachelle of Brentwood, Tennessee; Corey Sorensen and his wife Michelle of Harlan; Barry Sorensen and his wife Emily of Harlan; Tammy and her husband Eric Shaw of Omaha, Nebraska; Troy Weilage and his wife Heidi of Malvern, Iowa; Shad Weilage and his wife Lisa and Scott Weilage and his wife Grace both of Council Bluffs; thirty-eight great grandchildren; nine great-great grandchildren; her sister Audrey and her husband Wes Wichman of Littleton, Colorado; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
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