Gladys Evelyn Hansen

Gladys Evelyn Hansen, the daughter of Nels and Claudine Greve Olsen, was born February 9, 1922, at her parents’ home northwest of Exira, Iowa and died January 8, 2012, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 89 years, 10 months, and 29 days. Gladys was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. She attended rural school “Sharon #7” then graduated from the Elk Horn High School with the Class of 1940. Gladys then helped on the family farm. Gladys met Howard Franklin Hansen at Happy Hollow near Indian Creek and on March 8, 1941, they were married in Shenandoah, Iowa. Two sons Gary and Thomas were born to this union. They farmed near the Atlantic, Iowa area. They milked cows and grew row crops. Gladys always had a large garden and raised chickens. Later Gladys worked part time as a cook at the Stuckey’s Restaurant as long as the business remained open. They retired from farming in 1998 and moved into Exira. Gladys enjoyed their home then moved to the Exira Care Center in November of 2011. Gladys was a member of the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. Gladys was a very loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother. She especially found great joy in spending time with her family. Preceding her in death was her great grandson Samuel Paul Hansen; her great granddaughter Emma Rose Hansen; her parents; her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Nels and Caroline Hansen; her sister Alice and husband Arlo Elmquist; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Leonard and wife Lilly Hansen, Harold Hansen, Hazel and husband Vernon Knudsen, Helen Clemmensen, and Lucille and husband Juhl Bengard. Survivors include her husband Howard F. Hansen of Exira, Iowa; her sons: Gary and wife Max Hansen of Exira, Thomas and wife Marlys Hansen of Norwalk, Iowa; her grandchildren: Greg and wife Kelli Hansen of Kansas City, Missouri, Stacy Hansen and husband Derek Claussen of Des Moines, Iowa, Jill and husband Shawn Charles of Chandler, Arizona, Kyle and wife Kelly Hansen of Norwalk, Neil and wife Kristy Hansen of Des Moines; 12 great grandchildren; her brother-in-law Lee and wife Betty Clemmensen of Audubon, Iowa; her special cousin Ada Jepsen of Blair, Nebraska; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet friends Thursday morning at 9:30 A.M. until the time of the service at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral Service will be conducted by Pastor Steven Frock on Thursday, January 12, 2012, at 10:30 A.M. at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa.