SPARTA - Lenna M. Hanson, 85, of Sparta, passed away Friday, August 26, 2022 at Rolling Hills Rehabilitation Center in Sparta. She was born on June 12, 1937 to Raymond and Verna (Hangardner) Janssen in Ceylon, MN.
Lenna pursued her passion and received a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Mankato State. She met the love of her life, Bruce Hanson, in social dance class. They married in 1958 in Mankato and put down roots in Sparta in 1964.
Lenna taught home economics in southern Minnesota and at Brookwood High School. She attended UW-La Crosse to attain a master’s degree in Physical Education. In the early years of her tenure with the Sparta School District, Lenna taught elementary physical education in grades K-6 and she finished her career with grades K-3. Lenna was also a UW-La Crosse Cooperating Teacher who mentored countless future educators.
She was a member of The Order of the Eastern Star and a founding member of the Alpha Upsilon Sigma chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society. Lenna was a gifted seamstress who loved creating new and improved patterns for clothing and home décor. In her free time, she taught night classes on the just released kitchen appliance - the microwave.
Lenna and Bruce spent their summers traveling with their children across the country. During retirement, with close friends and family, they traversed the globe.
Lenna is survived by her children: Carleton (Pamela Dunnum) Hanson of Oshkosh, Clayton (Ann Sharp) Hanson of Sparta, and Cristal (John) Jones of Viroqua, WI; 8 grandchildren: Kassandra (Adam) Dushenski, Kristopher (Cristin MacCarthy) Hanson, Benjamin Hanson, Brianna Hanson, Gabriel (Dana Miller) Hanson, Olivia Hanson, Caleb Hanson, and Jessica Jones; 6 great grandchildren: Logan, Luke, Landen, Morgan, Oliver, and Owen. She is further survived by one brother, Raymond Janssen, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce; her parents; sisters, Carol Cole and Bonnie Wesolek; sister-in-law, Vallus Janssen; brothers-in-law, Dennes Wallin, Verle Cole, George Wesolek, and Dick Delgado.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Sparta, with Reverend Jim Scaife officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Woodlawn Cemetery, Sparta.
Family and friends are invited to call from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, in Sparta, and on Wednesday at the church from 10 a.m. until time of services. Online condolences may be offered at www.schanhoferfh.com
Memorials are preferred and may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, Gundersen Lutheran Foundation, and Delta Kappa Gamma.
The Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation, Sparta, is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.
Lanham-Schanhofer Funeral Home and Cremation
