Eleanor Hanen, 91, a longtime resident of Jefferson, passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at Shady Oaks in Lake City, Iowa, where she has been a resident for the past six years.
Memorial Services will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, April 4, 2016 at Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home in Jefferson, with Rev. Sheldon Henderson of the Central Christian Church presiding. The family will greet friends at the funeral home beginning at 9:30 a.m., Monday April 4th, one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Jefferson Cemetery, Jefferson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Jefferson Public Library.
Eleanor Pauline (Crews) Hanen was born April 17, 1924 at home in Jamaica, Iowa, to Sadie (Ogden) and Ben Crews. She grew up on a farm in the Cooper area and graduated from Cooper High School. On April 15, 1943, Eleanor married Junior Hanen. While Junior served in the Navy, Eleanor followed him to Philadelphia and California. In California she worked as a “Rosie Riveter.” After Junior’s service in the war, they moved to a farm north of Jefferson and later east of Jefferson.
Eleanor enjoyed farming life, raising two daughters, spending time with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, reading and playing golf. Family was very important to Eleanor, including spending time with her parents and sisters’ families. They had many, many fun times together from cleaning the basement, picnics, playing cards, family vacation fishing trips and driving out West. In later life, she worked at the West Central Coop and Jefferson Public Schools as a lunch lady.
Eleanor is survived by her daughters: Lana (Jim) Sorenson and Lynne (Charlie) Pederson; grandchildren: Kelly (Brett) Bruggeman, Kasey Stern and Tedd (Molly) Pederson; great-grandchildren: Morgan, Ben, Maddie and Abby Bruggeman, Kennedy and Kaitlyn Stern, Gracie Batchelder, Piper, Chloe and Zach Pederson; sister, Betty Mains; nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Helen Turner; and brothers-in-law, Den Turner and Ralph Mains.
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, www.sliningerschroeder.com, (515) 386-2171.