Karen Hanson

Karen Hanson, age 70, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Iowa, following a long illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February 9, 2009, at the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church, rural Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Douglas Mathison officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah and after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Monday morning. Karen Ann (Perry) Hanson was born on December 29, 1938, the daughter of Robert C. and Clarice (Johnson) Perry in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Karen was baptized on April 1, 1945 at Bethany Lutheran Church and confirmed in 1959. She married Roger Hanson on August 31, 1957, at Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. Together they had six children: Roger, Jr., Brian, Shelley, Craig, Bruce and Julie. In 1974, they moved to Decorah and farmed north of Decorah. Karen worked at the Oneota Care Facility in the kitchen, until her health forced her to quit. Throughout her life, Karen enjoyed gardening, playing cards, watching a good comedy on TV, and visiting with family and friends. She was a member of the Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school and enjoyed making quilts and doing embroidery for the church bazaar. Karen’s survivors include her six children: Roger Hanson, Jr., Waukon, IA; Brian (Sue) Hanson, Waterloo, IA; Shelley (friend, Jerry) Sutton, Decorah, IA; Craig (Randi) Hanson, Decorah, IA; Bruce (Kaleen) Hanson, Waukon, IA; and Julie (Gerard Young) Hanson, Dallas, TX. Eighteen grandchildren: Joseph Stegen, Sena (John) Downing, Daniel Hanson, Jake Stegen, Chris Stegen, Josh Hanson, Megen (friend, Jason) Sutton, Adam Sutton, Ethan Sutton, Hailey Hanson, Paige Hanson, Craig Hanson, Jr., Clayton Hanson, Kylie Hanson, Brixon Hanson, Milanna Young and Sydney Young. Two great grandchildren: Nathan Sutton and Annabel Stegen. One brother: Robert (friend, Jackie) Perry, Minneapolis, MN. Three sisters-in-law: Sharon (Maurice “Butch”) Tomczak, Madison, WI; Avis Hanson, Brown Deer, WI and Beverly Hanson, Sauk City, WI. Four brothers-in-law: Paul Hanson, Waukon, IA; Don (Martha) Hanson, Waukon, IA; Lyle (Virginia) Hanson, Decorah, IA and Robert Hanson, Waukon, IA, along with many nieces and nephews. Karen was preceded in death by her parents: Robert and Clarice Perry. Her husband: Roger Hanson in 1997. Her father and mother-in-law: Carman Sr. and Clarice (Teslow) Hanson. One daughter-in-law: Lila, in 1997. One brother-in-law: Carmen Hanson, Jr. in 1997. One niece and nephew: Callie and Cole Hanson.