Kathryn Ann Hansen

Kathryn Ann (Andersen) Hansen, the daughter of Hans Christian and Emma Christina (Petersen) Andersen, was born December 14, 1936, on the family farm northwest of Brayton in Oakfield Township, Audubon County, Iowa and died February 16, 2009, at the Salem Lutheran Homes in Elk Horn, Iowa at the age 72 years, 2 months, and 2 days.
Kathryn was baptized at home on December 19, 1936, by Pastor H. Plambeck and was confirmed on October 28, 1951, at St. Johns Lutheran Church west of Exira by Pastor Thorvald Hansen. She attended Oakfield #1 through the fourth grade and then attended Oakfield #6 through the eighth grade. She graduated from the Exira High School with the class of 1955. Kathryn then worked in Des Moines for Northwestern Bell Telephone as an accounting clerk from May of 1955 until February of 1957. Then she transferred to Northwestern Bell in Omaha, Nebraska and worked there until November of 1957. She returned home and worked a few months at the Brayton Produce.
On February 28, 1958, she was united in marriage to Eugene Nis Hansen of Kimballton at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton. To this union 5 children were born: Julie Ann, Thomas Eugene, Linda Jane, Mary Kathryn and Todd Eugene. Kathryn belonged to a neighborhood club in each neighborhood that she lived in. From March of 1977 to September of 1979 she worked as a head cook at the Danish Inn. She then worked for Community Opportunities as a homemaker health aide until June of 1982. In October of 1983, she started working at Salem Lutheran Homes as a Nurses Aide and later became a Med Aide. She worked at Salem Lutheran Homes for 21 years. She was employed with Audubon County Public Health as a homemaker health aide in the fall of 1985 until the fall of 1988 at the same time she worked at Salem Lutheran Homes. Kathryn was a past 4-H leader and member of the Exira E-Club. More recently she was a member of the Red Hat Scarlet Feathers of Elk Horn and she enjoyed volunteering at the Genealogy Center in Elk Horn. Kathryn was a hard worker and a good caregiver to anyone that needed help. She enjoyed cooking and baking. Kathryn fought a courageous battle with cancer for 16 years. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She thoroughly enjoyed her grandchildren, especially going to their school activities.
Preceding her in death in addition to her parents were her mother and father-in-law: Hans T. and Bertha Hansen; her nephews: Rick Andersen, David Schroeter and Scott Andersen; her brothers-in-law: Don Jespersen and Dennis Hansen; and her sister-in-law: Delores Andersen.
Survivors include her husband of almost 51 years: Eugene N. Hansen of Exira, Iowa; her children: Julie and husband Allan Nissen; Thomas E. Hansen; Linda Hansen all of Exira; Mary and husband Burt Blom of Marshalltown, Iowa; and Todd Hansen of Elk Horn, Iowa; her grandchildren: Jill and husband Glen Cornell of Windsor Heights, Iowa; Jennifer Nissen of Exira; Jaime Nissen and fianc Cole Christensen of Audubon, Iowa; Daniel Blom, David Blom and Stephen Blom all of Marshalltown; her brothers and sisters: Robert and wife Betty Andersen of Des Moines, Iowa; Richard and wife Margaret Andersen of Brayton, Iowa; Dorothy Jespersen of Rogers, Arkansas; Harvey and wife Carol Andersen of Bayonne, New Jersey; and Bertha and husband Darrell Schroeter of Exira; her brothers-in-law: Leon and wife Cheryl Hansen of Jacksonville; and Jerry and wife Sherry Hansen of Harlan, Iowa; numerous nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Kimballton.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, IA.

Service:
Funeral Services will be conducted by Pastor Tony E. Ede on Friday, February 20, 2009, at 10:30 A.M. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Kimballton, Iowa.