Gladys M. Hanzen

Gladys Hanzen, age 97, of Doon, Iowa, died Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids, Iowa.

     Visitation will be Friday, November 8 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm, with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Jurrens Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, Iowa. 

     Funeral service will be 1:00 pm, Saturday, November 9th at Jurrens Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, Iowa with Pastor Scott VanRavenswaay officiating.

     Burial will be at Richland Cemetery near Inwood, Iowa.  

     Gladys Mildred Hanzen was born March 6, 1922 at her family farm west of Viborg, South Dakota, the daughter of Edward and Amelia (Garness) Hanson.  She was raised on the family farm and attended country school & graduated from Viborg High School in 1939.  While at home she attended Meldal Lutheran Church of Irene, South Dakota.  After graduating, she helped on the family farm and during the winter months she went to her sister in California and worked various jobs.  She also worked at the NW Bell Telephone Company in Sioux Falls, South Dakota before marriage. 

      Gladys was united in marriage to Walter Hanzen on June 4th, 1952 at Memorial Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Together they made their home on the family farm northwest of Doon, Iowa where they farmed their entire married life.  They were blessed with five children.  Gladys was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church in Alvord, Iowa.  She enjoyed farm life and helping with all aspects of the farm.  She was proud of her Norwegian heritage and instilled a strong work ethic with her children.  She enjoyed playing cards, gardening, flowers and family gatherings, but especially loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 

     On October 20, 1984 her husband, Walter, passed away after 32 years of marriage.  She remained on the family farm until May of 2018, when she entered Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids, Iowa.  She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

      She is survived by her five children,  Judy (Jeffrey) DeBoer of Rock Rapids, Iowa, Daryl Hanzen of Doon, Iowa, Pamela (Wes) VanVoorst of Orange City, Iowa, Cherrie Hill of Rock Rapids, Iowa,  Jill (Randy) Anderson of Harrisburg, South Dakota; seven grandchildren,  Ginger (Andy) Ebel of Sutherland, Iowa, Kristin (Mark) Haan of Sioux Center, Iowa, Katie (Kyle) Wenell of Albert City, Iowa, Megan (Logan) Huisman of Orange City, Iowa, Rebecca Hill and special friend Mark Anderson of Harrisburg, South Dakota, Jackie Hill of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Dan Hill of Rock Rapids, Iowa; and eighteen great-grandchildren plus one due in Dec.; brother-in-law, Milo Hanzen of Inwood, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews and extended family. 

     She is preceded in death by her husband Walter; granddaughter, Joni DeBoer; two brothers, Olaf and Henry Hanson; four sisters, Grace Westall, Agnes Armstrong, Edna Johnson and Helen Leimbach; and one sister-in-law, Viola Meiburg, and their spouses.