Sena Downing

Sena Marie Downing, age 25, of Clarksville, Tennessee, formerly of Decorah, Iowa, died on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, September 12, 2009, at the Big Canoe Lutheran Church, 1381 Big Canoe Road, Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. David Andreae presiding. Burial will be in the Iowa River Cemetery. Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2009, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, in Decorah, Iowa, and after 9:30 a.m. at the church on Saturday morning. Memorials my be given in memory of Sena Dowing, in care of her grandparents: Lyle and Helen Stegen, 2389 Balsam Road, Decorah, IA 52101 Sena Marie (Hanson) Downing was born on April 12, 1984, the daughter of Roger and Lila (Stegen) Hanson, in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Sena was baptized at Big Canoe Lutheran Church and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Waukon. Sena attended Allamakee Community Schools in Waukon, Iowa, and Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar, Iowa. Sena was an excellent waitress, working at Café Deluxe, ChoSun’s, and T-Bocks this past winter, along with Old Chicago in Clarksville, Tennessee. Sena married Jon Downing in Clarksville, Tennessee on July 15, 2005. Sena was a terrific cook and enjoyed using herbs and spices as she cooked. She loved her big white German shepherd, Jack, and enjoyed going hiking and biking in the mountains. Sena also enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and growing her great grandmother’s calla lilies. Sena is survived by her husband: Jon Downing, Clarksville, TN. Her father: Roger Hanson, Jr., Waukon, IA. Four brothers: Joseph Stegen, Decorah, IA; Dan Hanson, Waukon, IA; Jeremiah Stegen, Waukon, IA and Chris Stegen, Iowa City, IA. Her maternal grandparents: Lyle and Helen Stegen, Decorah, IA. Aunts and uncles: Lee (Jenny) Stegen, Waukon, IA; Lloyd (special friend, Amanda Winters) Stegen, Dorchester, IA; Brian (Sue) Hanson, Waterloo, IA; Shelley (friend, Jerry Hageman) Sutton, Decorah, IA; Craig (Randi) Hanson, Decorah, IA; Bruce (Kaleen) Hanson, Waukon, IA; and Julie (Gerard Young) Hanson, Dallas, TX. Great aunts and uncles: Dr. Jim (Jerilyn) Forde, Moorhead, MN; Robert (friend, Jackie) Perry, Minneapolis, MN; Sharon (Maurice “Butch”) Tomczak, Madison, WI; Avis Magnuson, Brown Deer, WI and Beverly Hanson, Sauk City, WI; Paul Hanson, Waukon, IA; Don (Martha) Hanson, Waukon, IA; Lyle (Virginia) Hanson, Decorah, IA; Robert Hanson, Waukon, IA; LaVonne (Jack) Bussey, Sacramento, CA; Dorothy (Dave) Christen, Wadena, IA; Arla Schmitt, Independence, IA and Arlan (Lois) Stegen, Cedar Rapids, IA. Great great aunt: Agnes Forde, Decorah, IA, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Sena was preceded in death by her mother: Lila Stegen, in 1997. Her paternal grandparents: Roger & Karen Hanson. Her maternal great grandparents: Lloyd & Harriet Forde, and Mabel Stegen and Arnold Stegen. Paternal great grandparents: Carmen & Clarice Hanson and Robert & Clarice Perry.