Karen JoAnn Hanson was born September 1st, 1940 in Lake Mills, IA to Manly and Idora (Stene) Maakestad. The family moved to Ames, IA the following year in 1941 and Karen graduated from Ames High School in 1958.

Karen began her post-secondary education at Luther College in Decorah, IA in the fall of 1958. After her freshman year, she transferred to Iowa Lutheran in Des Moines, IA and graduated with a degree in Nursing in 1963. Karen put that degree to work at the University of Minnesota Hospital and ultimately Fairview Riverside Hospital in MInneapolis, MN as a Nurse in the Adolescent Psychiatric Lockdown Unit.

She Married Ralph E. Hanson November 8th, 1981, residing together in Burnsville, MN. Together they welcomed their son, Brian Hanson on March 7th, 1982. In 1983, the family moved to Apple Valley, MN. In order to spend more time with her son, Karen became an at-home daycare provider. To the children she looked after (Ali Matacola, Maggie (Matacola) Yauk & Jordan Buri), she became a surrogate mother. In the fall of 1994, Karen and Ralph welcomed Karen’s grandniece Theresa Pooley into their home until her high school graduation in 1996. These children also became surrogate siblings for Karen’s son.

During the last 25 years of Karen’s life, the call to provide care for others never waned. She preformed pre-school and K-12 health screening services, relishing in the opportunity to help children be physically and mentally prepared to succeed in education and life. She was also a substitute school nurse for various schools and districts within an hours drive of Apple Valley, MN. She was grateful to be the primary caretaker for her sister (Marge (Maakestad) Twito)

Karen was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Virginia (Maakestad) Clevenger, and husband, Ralph and Marjorie (Maakestad) Twito; a brother, Loren Maakestad, and wife, Merle (Gaskkill).

Karen is survived by her husband Ralph Hanson, son Brian Hanson and his wife Ashley (Miorana) Hanson.

Funeral at 11am on Thurs., July 5, 2018 at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 12650 Johnny Cake Ridge Rd., Apple Valley, with visitation one hour prior. Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Memorial Fund for Karen can be found at: https://www.gofundme.com/karen-hanson-memorial-fund Thank you to everyone for your support.