Mardell Mable Hansen

Mardell Mable Hansen, the daughter of Jens Peter and Sena (Larsen) Munch, was born May 3, 1926, at her parents’ home in rural Audubon County near Kimballton, Iowa and died August 6, 2020, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 94 years, 3 months, and 3 days.

Mardell was baptized at the Bethany Lutheran Church northeast of Kimballton and later confirmed at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. She attended rural school Exira Township #9, and then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1945.

On July 26, 1945, she was united in marriage to Milo M. Hansen in Brownwood, Texas where Milo was stationed with the U.S. Army. They were blessed with two daughters: Joyce and Linda. Milo was transferred overseas and Mardell moved to Omaha, Nebraska and was employed by the Union Pacific Railroad until Milo was honorably discharged. They moved to Milo’s family farm north of Exira. They grew row crops and raised livestock until they quit farming and moved into Exira. Mardell was employed at the Exira Supervalu for more than 15 years and then was a home maker. Milo died May 27, 2007. Mardell continued to enjoy her home until she had health issues and moved to the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa in 2014.

Mardell was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. Mardell and Milo loved to dance and could be seen almost every weekend at their favorite dance in Minden, Iowa. They also enjoyed taking family trips to many of their favorite fishing areas. Mardell also enjoyed raising both flowers and vegetables. She enjoyed helping the church ladies quilt, was a great cook, and always had a wonderful sense of humor.

Preceding her in death was her husband, Milo M. Hansen; her parents; her brothers, Virgil Munch and his wives Martha and Vivian, and Darrell Munch; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Chris and Emma Hansen; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Gloria Munch, Nancy Munch, Roland and wife Rosemary Hansen, Bertha Mae and husband Martin Nielsen, and Florence and husband Joe Staub.

Survivors include her daughters, Joyce and husband Doug Taggart of Audubon, Iowa and Linda and husband Russ Joyce of Atlantic, Iowa; her grandchildren: Dina and husband Darren Gibbons of Ankeny, Iowa; Jamie and wife Karyn Joyce of Atlantic; Ian and wife Mary Joyce of Kansas City, Missouri; Adam and wife Jennifer Joyce of Madison, Wisconsin; her great-grandchildren: Ellis Gibbons and Leighton Gibbons, both of Ankeny; Nickolas Joyce of Clive, Iowa; Emma Joyce of Atlantic; Milo Joyce of Kansas City; and Freyja Joyce, Finley Joyce, and Thea Joyce, all of Madison, Wisconsin; her brother, Dallas Munch of Exira; her sister-in-law, Marilyn Munch of Exira; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

There will be open visitation all day Sunday August 9, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira, Iowa. The family will not be present at the visitation. There will be a private family funeral service at a later date with Pastor Steven Frock officiating. Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Dina Gibbons, Jamie Joyce, Ian Joyce, Adam Joyce, Darren Gibbons, Nickolas Joyce and Emma Joyce.