Irma I. (Schoenwetter) Hansen

Irma Izola Hansen, 94, of Kanawha, Iowa passed away Sunday, October 24, 2010 at the Kanawha Community Home in Kanawha.

Funeral services for Irma Hansen will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2010 at 10:30 AM at the United Methodist Church in Kanawha with Pastor Cindy Morrison officiating.  Burial will take place at Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 from 5-7 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East Second Street, in Kanawha and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Irma Izola (Schoenwetter) Hansen was born June 6, 1916 at her parents rural home west of Klemme.  She was the second born of a family of six children to Ed and Nora (Swanson) Schoenwetter.

Her spiritual life began at Liberty Methodist Church at an early age, where she was baptized.  We recall her telling about attending Christmas Eve worship arriving in a bobsled.  Later, she was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Kanawha.

Her schooling began at country school in Twin Lake Township, later she attended two of her high school years at Goodell, graduating from Klemme high school in 1934 during the depression years.  She attended college at Cedar Falls and graduated with a normal training certificate in teaching and taught at Liberty #8 for two years.

It was in 1937 that she married her beloved husband, Russel Hansen at her parents’ home.  Their union was blessed with four children, Daryl Dean, Gloria Ann, twins, Rita Louise and Roger Lyle.  Her First born twins, Eugene Russel, and Joanne Irma passed away shortly after their birth in 1938.

Russel and Irma began their farming years in Twin Lake Township on a farm owned by Russel’s father, Chris Hansen until 1970, then they moved to their farm in Erin Township.  In the early 2000s Irma became a resident of Kanawha and in 2006 a resident at the Kanawha Community Home.

Irma was a very special wife, mother, grandma and friend, she loved all of her family to the end, always giving of herself for them, showing unequaled love and true devotion.  Her many friends knew her to be a steadfast, loyal and loving friend, she never complained, but lived her life with a wonderful sense of humor, always with trust and faith in her God through hardships and tragedy.  She was an expert at so many things, an accomplished seamstress and quilter, skilled in all kinds of handiwork, she stained and finished many of Russel’s grandfather clocks and other woodworks, she had a love for gardening, and especially enjoyed her beautiful gladiolas and roses, she served the most delicious meals at a laden table to friends and family, always followed with delectable desserts.  She knew hard work and taught it to her family by example.

Through the years she gave of herself teaching Sunday school for many, many years, working with her children in 4-H, Hancock County Extension Council, Hancock County Choir, Women’s Fellowship and volunteering at the nursing home reading to the family of residents there for about 35 years, lending her capable hands with perfect quilting stitches on quilts at church and quilts for her family.  She loved to read, sing, play the piano and organ.  In her quiet, gentle manner she touched so many in so many different ways continuing to bless others with her beautiful smile and polite and respectful demeanor at the nursing home where she had resided the last four years.

Irma is survived by her daughter, Gloria Burk, and her husband Kay of Garner; Roger and his wife, Joann, of Kanawha, Rita Greiman and her husband, Terry, of Bloomfield, NM; and daughter-in-law Vivien (Daryl) Hansen of Humboldt; her grandchildren, Jill Fuller and husband, Paul, and children Noah, and Caleb; Leah Hill, and husband, Peter, and children; Naomi, Lydia, and Levi; Lisa Woiwood; and husband, Mark, and children, Adam, Aaron, Annelise and Ashton; Steve Burk, and wife, Julie, and children Alyssa and Abigail; Dana Burk, and wife, Kathy, and children Karina, Brayden and Kaylie; Todd Hansen and children, Brianna and Maxwell; Brian Hansen and wife, Janelle, and children, Kyren, Alainee, Alex and Amy; Angela Abbas and husband Jason; Chris Greiman and wife, Tara, and children, Tristyn and Hayden.  Irma is also survived by her dear sister, Wava Geary, and husband, Elwood; sisters-in-law, Eunice Schoenwetter, and Marie Schoenwetter, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, Ed and Nora Schoenwetter, husband, Russel, in 1993, son Daryl in 1997, grandson Brenden Jon Greiman in 1983; her sister, Velda Cutshall; and brothers Lyle (WWII), Merle and Wayne Schoenwetter and numerous other family members.

A host of family and friends will always treasure her memory, her life was an inspiration and truly valued by those who had the privilege to know and love her.  Heaven’s Gate is opened wide by her Heavenly Father with a joyous homecoming awaited by those she loved so dearly.