Nancy L. Hanson

Special Note:

Funeral Livestream Link: ctkluth.com/nancyhanson

Nancy Hanson - daughter, sister, wife, Mom, Grandma, teacher, Air Force Wife and Mom and Notre Dame Graduate - always serving as a woman of faith.  For Nancy the Christmas and Easter promises of her faith are now real as she passed away Dec 5 in Granger, IN.         

Nancy Lee (Bodach) Hanson was born April 7, 1943, in Minneapolis, MN to Maynard and Clara Bodach. As an infant she moved with her parents to Rockford, IL where she graduated from Rockford East High School in 1961.   She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN to study music education and embrace the rich musical traditions of the college.  It was here that she met Howard Hanson and the idea of teaching high school music was put on hold.  Nancy and Howard were married in Aug, 1965, and for the next 27 years they served together in the Air Force.  Nancy handled the many deployments, separations, and moves with grace and especially enjoyed her involvement with other Air Force wives and their families and with the local communities. 

Central to Nancy, however, was her love and support for her family.  Her son, David Scott was born in March 1969 and daughter Rebecca Malia in December 1971, both while she and Howard served in Hawaii.  After Hawaii the school years included stops in Indiana (twice), Arizona, Alabama (twice), Massachusets and Illiinois.  At every place Nancy created a home filled with love, respect, discipline, traditions, and faith.

After teaching elementary students for two years following their marriage, Nancy committed to not just support Howard’s career and David and Rebecca’s activities, but to create opportunities to bring her creative and organization skills to the benefit of all.  These included learning and teaching Hawaiian quilt making, tole painting, ceramics, organizing Air Force unit activities, and involvement in local community and church activities.  In every case she brought a special common sense and commitment to the group.

Moving to South Bend in 1988 brought new opportunities and Nancy took full advantage of them.  At age 51 she completed a Notre Dame graduate degree in American Studies and earned a position in the University Archives as Curator of Exhibits.  Nancy loved this opportunity and was proud of her exhibits both on campus and at the South Bend Center of History.  She was especially proud to be an ND grad.   

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, a younger sister, Linda and an infant brother, Jerry.  She leaves to celebrate her life her husband Howard, their son David (Cindy) and their daughters Sage, Avery and Reese, and their daughter Rebecca and her daughter Hannah Rose and sons Mason and Hanson.  She is also survived by her brother Ronald and his wife Sue in Goshen, IN.  

Visitation will be at Kaniewski Funeral Home 4:00 - 6:00 on December 10 with her funeral at Christ The King Lutheran church on Dec 11 at 10:00.  Burial will be in Minnesota.  Request memorials be addressed to the music program at Christ the King Lutheran church or donors choice.  Blessed be her memory.

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