Mary Lou Hanson

Memorial Services for Mary Lou Hanson will be held on Monday, September 26, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church in rural Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Murray Jones and Chaplain DeWane Dow officiating. Private family interment will be held prior to services at the Moses Hill Cemetery in rural Phelps County.

Mary Lou Hanson, 86 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Mary Lou was born February 8, 1930 in Franklin, Nebraska, the eldest of five children born to Estle P. and Gracie B. (Gessford) Dunlap. She received her education from Franklin Public Schools, graduating from Franklin High School with the class of 1948. She then pursued higher education at Kearney State Teachers College, graduating with a BA in Elementary Education.

In 1952, she was united in marriage to Earl Junior Hanson and to this union three children were born: Donna Marie, William Earl and Carol Lynn. The family made their home on the family farm north of Holdrege in Phelps County. Mary Lou's main focus was being a homemaker, raising her children, and helping Junior on the farm when needed. In the years to come, Mary Lou also taught elementary in Holdrege, Loomis, R-3 and Funk, combined for several years. Junior preceded her in death on February 22, 2013.

She was a member of the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church, where she was active and past President of WMS and White Cross as well. Mary Lou was a wonderful host, and spending time with her family was always the highlight of her life.

Besides her parents and husband; she is preceded in death by her brother, Dean Dunlap; sister, Loretta Paxton; sisters-in-law: Helen Hanson in infancy, Evalyn Almquist and her husband, Dean, Dorothy Novak and her husband, Bob, and Doris Hanson; brothers-in-law: Lawrence "Bob" Hanson and his wife, Elva, Wilmer Hanson and his wife, Ruth, Roger Hanson and his wife, Isla, Harry Hollinger and Bob Chapman.

Mary Lou leaves to celebrate her life; her son, Bill Hanson and his wife, Kelley of Holdrege; daughters: Donna Imig and her husband, Jim of Seward, Nebraska and Carol Sandin and her husband, Torrey of Lincoln, Nebraska; six grandchildren: Cody Hanson and his wife, Becky, Joel Imig, Britny Imig and Jamie Imig, Taryn Sandin and Jenna Sandin; step-grandchildren: Anthony Imig and his wife, Alice, Shannon Yeackley and her husband, Colby and Mindy Ruzicka and her husband, Danny; step great-grandchildren: Tyler and Zachary Penner, Jimmie and Katie Imig and Mack Ruzicka; one step great-great grandson, Mason; two sisters: Dorothy Chapman of Lincoln, Nebraska and Marian Forsythe and her husband, Ron of Melbourne, Australia; brothers-in-law: Sherrod Hanson of Loomis, Nebraska and Frank Paxton of North Platte, Nebraska; two sisters-in-law: Doris Hollinger of Papillion, Nebraska and Gladys Cole and her husband, Gerald of Curtis, Nebraska; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, September 25, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Mary Lou's honor and kindly suggested to the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church or the Christian Homes Care Community – Chapel Fund.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.