Obituary of Marian A. Hanson

Marian A. Hanson, a retired mathematics teacher and resident of Whitewater, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday (9/30/10) with her daughter Virginia Coburn of Whitewater at her side. She was 91. She lived at Fairhaven Retirement Community since April and had been in hospice care at that facility since June. Prior to moving to Fairhaven, she was a resident of Mulberry Glen since moving to Whitewater from Nebraska in 2003. Mrs. Hanson was known and admired for her energy, her leadership abilities and her stylish dressing. A member of First English Lutheran Church, she played an active role in church activities as well as civic endeavors in the Whitewater community. She sang in the church choir and was an active member of the church�s stewardship committee. She was a regular participant in the Whitewater Relay for Life and served as honorary chairperson in 2005. She was a member of the Whitewater League of Women Voters, served as treasurer and helped register voters. She relished her role as grandmother and great-grandmother and welcomed her sixth great-grandchild, Corrine Phoenix Faris, into the world just one month earlier. �Mrs. Hanson was an accomplished vocalist and pianist. Her musical highlight came on June 11, 2007, when, at the age of 88, she performed on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York with the Omaha Cantata Choir. An avid traveler, Mrs. Hanson enjoyed trips with her husband in retirement and she continued to travel around the world in her 70s and 80s. Among her destinations were Kenya, China, Russia, Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom. Marian Agatha Evanson was born on April 1, 1919, in Hudson, SD, the youngest of four children of Philip and Maude Evanson. She attended primary school there and received a bachelors degree in English and music from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. She and Odell Hanson were married in 1941. During World War II she taught school but also spent time in several U.S. cities, as well as Panama, where Odell was stationed. After the war the couple settled in Omaha and began raising their three children. In 1954 the family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska. She renewed her teaching certificate and earned a master�s degree in mathematics from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She taught at area high schools before moving to Omaha in 1974. She retired from teaching in 1982 after several years at Omaha Westside H.S. Her husband, a longtime correspondent for the Associated Press and later a public affairs officer for the U.S. National Park Service, died in 1986. After retirement, Mrs. Hanson continued to lead an active life, participating in a variety of church and community activities and enjoying golf, bridge and math tutoring. She was a member of Lutheran Church of the Master where she served as congregation president, served on the church council and sang in the choir. For six years she was treasurer of the executive board of Women of the American Lutheran Church. In 1988 she was named a member of the board of directors of the Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha and participated in many of the major decisions that led to its merger with Alegent Health System. She was active in the Omaha Assistance League and served as as president of that organization. In 1993 she spent nearly a year in Warsaw, Poland doing volunteer work for Campus Crusade for Christ. She is survived by son Barry (Debra Whitefield) Hanson of Long Beach, NY, daughter Virginia (James) Coburn of Whitewater, son Steven (Laureen Van Norman) Hanson of Lincoln, NE, grandchildren Thayer (Anne) Coburn, Joseph (Jessica) Coburn of Whitewater and Cara (Alex) Faris of Madison, WI, step-grandson Jake Grasmick and six great-grandchildren, Aidan, Olive, Kate, Nola, Langdon and Corinne. The family expresses gratitude to the entire staff of Fairhaven and of Rainbow Hospice Care for their professional and compassionate care. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday October 5th at First English Lutheran Church of Whitewater. Nitardy Funeral Home is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Church or to the Whitewater Relay for Life.