Florence Hanson

Florence Eleanor Hanson, age 94, a former resident of Spirit Lake, Iowa, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2012, at the Hiawatha Care Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Florence Eleanor Dahlstrom, the daughter of Swedish immigrants, Fred and Judith Dahlstrom, was born February 26, 1918, in Albert City. She was the youngest of two brothers, Hilmer and Carl and one sister, Helga. After graduating from Lincoln Lee Consolidated School, she attended Buena Vista College and earned a teaching certificate. Her teaching career took her to Galva and then Harris, Iowa. Her third teaching job brought her to Spirit Lake, where she met and in 1941, married the handsome lawyer, Wilbur Hanson, the most eligible bachelor in town. Their daughter, Janalyn was born in 1942. World War II then intervened and the Coast Guard took them first to remote Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and then to Norfolk, Virginia. Returning home to Spirit Lake after the war, Wilbur resumed his law practice. Their son, Donald was born in 1946. Florence and Wilbur lived in Spirit Lake the rest of their lives. Florence loved being involved in many activities such as TTT, PTA, Scouts, Hospital Auxiliary, as a treasurer for 10 years, couple golf leagues, couples potluck bridge, book clubs and bridge groups. One of the longest running bridge groups was A Who's High. She was always hosting her family and friends. A life-long interest was watching Iowa and Iowa State basketball and football games. You could ask her about the players, scores and records, and she knew. Florence's strong Christian faith led to her involvement with the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church for almost 70 years. Her activities included: years teaching Sunday School, she and Wilbur working with the youth group, as well as President, Treasurer for 10 years, and District Officer of the United Methodist Women. She was on the building committee for the present church. Florence and Wilbur enjoyed camping trips around the United States with friends and family and traveling the world from Australia to Norway and Sweden. Florence is preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur in 1999, her parents, and all of her siblings. She loved being with her two children, Jan White, and her husband, Tim (deceased), of Cedar Rapids; Don Hanson, and his wife, Lee of Arlington, Virginia; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren: Julie, Ned (Claire), Avery, Samantha, Lucy, Steve (Mindi), Slade, Thor, Bjorn White and Andrew Hanson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church, 1812 Gary Ave., Spirit Lake, Iowa, 51360. A funeral service will be held at 1:00P.M. Friday, October 19, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be held Thursday, from 4:00P.M. until 5:00P.M. at the Schuchert Funeral Home. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake.

Florence Hanson

February 26, 1918 - October 10, 2012