Emogene "Jean" Hanson

Emogene “Jean” Gladys Hanson, 90, Wausau, died Monday, January 21, 2019 at the Aspirus Hospice House under the care of Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.

Jean was born April 16, 1928 to the late Albert H. and Adela L. (Ventzke) Dehnke in Augusta, WI.  Jean married Lawrence “Larry” K. Hanson on July 6, 1957 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Town of Wausau.  The couple celebrated 46 loving years together prior to Larry’s death on August 21, 2003. She was trained by a French maid and worked as a housekeeper for the Woodson family early on before going to work for the Marathon Bait Shop making fishing flies.  For the next 25 years, she worked for Kraft Foods retiring as a line operator and later volunteering at Bethesda.

Jean loved to love people and was always cheerful, charming and kind.  She was the glue that held her large family together and her house was the gathering place for many, many good times; especially her annual Halloween and Birthday parties.  Jean also treasured her time spending nearly every weekend at the cottage on Currie Lake with Larry, sailing and bringing family together.  Her faith gave her life purpose and meant everything to her and she spent many years working with the Ladies Aid at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Though never having children of their own, Jean and Larry loved their furbaby Teddy and treated him like a member of the family.

Jean is survived by her brother, Gordon Dehnke of Fall Creek, WI; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Harvey and Terry Hanson of Rothschild; many loving nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.  She is preceded in death by her three sisters.

The funeral service for Jean will be at 12:00 PM on Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church (4103 North 69th Street, Wausau, WI 54403).  Rev. Scott Holoubek will officiate.  Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until the time of service at the church on Saturday.  Jean will be entombed beside her cherished husband, Larry, at Restlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum, Town of Texas.  Helke Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements; you may sign our family guestbook at helke.com.

Warm appreciation goes to Jean’s dear friends up north who were as close to her as her beloved family.

Jean was a very special person and will be missed by many, but we will take comfort in knowing she will once again be reunited with her beloved husband, Larry.  It’s unlikely that we will ever again sip a margarita without loving memories of this wonderful, much loved lady.