Luella Jean Hansen

January 12, 1932 - February 3, 2020

Luella Jean (Madden) Hansen, 88, passed away February 3, 2020, surrounded by family at Peace Haven Retirement Home. She was born January 17, 1932 in Griswold, Iowa, the daughter of Ella and Frank Madden. Luella attended School in Avoca, Iowa. She met her husband, Donald Hansen, at a polka dance in the Old German Hall in Walnut, Iowa. Luella didn't know how to dance but Donald was determined to teach her. And dance she did, traveling to as many polka dances as possible. Donald and Luella were married on November 10, 1949 at the First Congregational Church in Avoca. After a few moves, they settled on the Hansen Family Farm where they lived the majority of their lives until retiring in 2019 to Peace Haven Retirement Home. Donald and Luella celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary this year. Luella was a long-time member of Peace United Church of Christ serving on the bereavement committee. For many years leading up to her passing, she enjoyed attending her children and grandchildren sporting events, baking and cooking for her family, raising a garden, and working in the yard. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters; Lorraine Orton, Doris Vernon, Francis Miller, Dorothy Hertel, Josephine Bauer; brothers Charles Madden, Edwin Madden; grandson Billy. Surviving in addition to her husband, Donald is her brother Kenneth Madden of Council Bluffs; her sons, Donald and wife Loleta (Kixmiller) of Walnut, Iowa; Allen and wife Bev (Trekamp) of Ainsworth, Nebraska; Daryl of Atlantic, Iowa; Rick and wife Cheryl (Skokan) of Elkhart, Kansas; and daughter Lori of Lemon Cove, California. Eleven Grandchildren; Michelle Tooley, Brent Hansen, Darrin Hansen, Chris Hansen, Wendy Buhrman, Scott Hansen, Juanita McCoy, Amy Scott, Andrew Whyte, Ally De Groot, and Emily Whyte. Twenty-one Great Grandchildren; Kaitlyn, Preston, Kamryn, Korie, Brady, Sierra, Skyler, Kash, Dhillon, Jacob, Spencer, Shelbie, Jillian, Mabrie, Carl, Christopher, Faith, Payton, Caiden, Chandler, and Cutler. Luella was blessed with many years of being a wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother. Her resilient, tenuous spirit allowed her family and friends a lifetime of memories. She will be greatly missed, but now she can dance with the angels.