Eldora Josephine Hanna

DECORAH - Eldora Josephine Christianson Hanna, 91, of Decorah, previously of Woden, died Tuesday, November 6, 2012 in the Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, November 10, 2012 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Woden with Rev. Robert Wolfert officiating.

Burial will be held at Grant Township Cemetery in rural Woden.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 5:30 PM, Friday, November 9, 2012 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home, 505 N. Clark St., Forest City and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorial services will be held at Vennehjem, 1102 Nordic Drive, Decorah on Sunday, November 11 at l:00 PM.

Eldora Josephine Christianson Hanna, loving wife of Donald, and adored by her two daughters Ruth (Lynn) Paulson of Madison, WI and Rebecca Hanna of Decorah, IA died on November 6th in Decorah, Iowa. Described as a "sweet, gentle woman" and a "courageous individual", she lived up to that reputation until the very end when she succumbed to congestive heart failure. She died with the utmost of class, dignity, and courage.

Born on June 17, 1921 to Joseph and Elma Grunhovd Christianson in Scarville, IA, she graduated at only 16 years old from Scarville High in 1938 and received a teaching certificate from Waldorf College in 1940 when only 18 years old. She taught at rural schools Linden #9 and Grant #7 in Winnebago County, Moorland, and Garner. She married Donald Hanna on February 18, 1949. Following time off to raise her daughter, she returned to teaching in Woden. Eldora received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Mankato in 1971. She retired from Woden-Crystal Lake in 1984 after teaching for a total of 33 years.

Eldora received the Outstanding Elementary Teacher Award in 1975. She was quoted saying at her retirement: "Teaching has never seemed like a job to me - it has always been something I have enjoyed. It is so rewarding to see children grow in learning."

Eldora co-founded a neighborhood group called KYN (Know Your Neighbor). She was an active member of Grant Lutheran Church in rural Woden, serving in roles such as Church Council Treasurer, WELCA President, Deacon, Secretary/Treasurer of her circle, and Sunday School Teacher. In addition, she was a member of the American Legion Auxilary in Woden and a member of the Iowa Retired School Personnel Association. She and Donald were active in Nordic 502 Sons of Norway, The Kum Along Club and Forest City Senior Citizens. In 2003 she received a Golden Membership Pin from the Sons of Norway for her 30 years in that organization. Donald and Eldora loved to travel in their motor home and spent several winters with Donald's siblings in Arizona. They also traveled several times to Norway to visit family and friends.

After a number of years on the farm after Donald's passing, she moved to Decorah, Iowa to be closer to her two daughters. She resided at Vennehjem and become active in RSVP serving the Decorah Library, Decorah Genealogical Library, and was a life member of Vesterheim. She was a member of Glenwood Lutheran Church where she was active in circle. In June of 2012, she moved to Aase Haugen Assisted Living and recently into its nursing home.

Special thanks goes to Dr. Dougan and Sandy who assisted Eldora through her health battles, to the staff and residents of Aase Haugen's Vennehjem, Assisted Living, and Nursing Home, who cared for this family in a multiple of ways, and to the Winneshiek County Hospice who provided support and education. Her daughters are so appreciative of their efforts!

Eldora was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Elma Christianson, her husband, Donald, brother, Richard, and nephew David. May they all be together once again!

Contributions in memory of Eldora may be made to any of her many causes: World Hunger, Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum, Decorah Genealogical Association, or to the Aase Haugen Fund in Memory of Eldora Hanna for items that would make a significant difference in resident's lives.