OBITUARIES FROM JIM HANSEN’S FAMILY
By WGS Member Jim Hansen
Ernest Peter Hansen (Jim’s paternal grandfather). A son of Peter H. Hansen and his wife Bertha Woltmann was born May 18, 1885, died Saturday morning at 2:30, October 10, 1942 at the Harlan Hospital after having reached the age of 57 years, 4 months, 22 days.
Ernest was born in Shelby County grew to manhood, received his education and spent his entire life in and about the rural community of Corley. On October 16, 1912, he was married to Mamie Inger [Mamie Ingwers], which union bore two sons and two daughters.
There remain to mourn his passing: his mother, Mrs. Bertha Woltmann of Corley; his widow, Mrs. Mamie Hansen; two daughters, Mrs. Enier [Einar] Jacobsen (Alvina) of Jacksonville, Mrs. George Knudsen (Hazel) also of Jacksonville; two sons: Walter Hansen, living near the parental home, Dewy [Dewey] living at the parental home and 4 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Peter Hansen, nearly twelve years ago, his brother Henry and two sisters, Meda and Meta (all died during their infancy.)
Funeral services were held at the Ernest Hansen home, near Corley, at 2:00 p. m. Tuesday. Rev. Joseph Gerlt officiated. (The Journal-Herald, Thursday, October 15, 1942, p. 3)
Mamie & Ernest Hansen‘s wedding picture
Mamie Hansen (Jim’s paternal grandmother), the daughter of Christian and Wilhelmena Meier Ingwers, was born July 13, 1890 in Moline, Illinois. She died at the Colonial Manors Home in Avoca, on January 13, 1974, at the age of 83 years and 6 months.
In 1904 she moved with her family to Iowa and they settled in Shelby County where she grew to adulthood.
On October 16, 1912, she was united in marriage to Ernest P. Hansen at the home of her parents in Cuppy’s Grove. Four children were born to this union.
After their marriage they farmed east of Corley where Mr. Hansen died in 1942. Mrs. Hansen made her home there until 1970 [1954] [Mrs. Hansen made her home in Corley, Iowa from 1954 until 1970], when she became a resident of the Colonial Manors Home in Avoca. Mrs. Hansen has been a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca for many years.
In addition to her husband, Ernest, she was preceded in death by her parents; by two brothers, Frank C. and Fred Ingwers; and by one sister, Henrietta (Mrs. Walter Scheel).
Surviving are her two daughters, Alvina (Mrs. Einar Jacobsen) of Harlan and Hazel (Mrs. George Knudsen) of Council Bluffs; two sons, Walter P. Hansen of Audubon and Dewey E. Hansen of Rt. 4, Harlan; eleven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.
She is also survived by two brothers, Will Ingwers of Harlan and John Ingwers of Avoca, by nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services were held at the Pauley Home for Funerals in Harlan at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 16, 1974, with Pastor H. E. Peterson of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, officiating. Interment was at the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca. (The Journal-Herald, Thursday, January 24, 1974, p. 1)
Peter H. Hansen (Jim’s great-grandfather) was born October 10, 1852 in the province Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. At the age of four, in company with his parents, he came to America and located at Davenport, Iowa. In 1881 he, like many others in Scott County, came farther west and located in Shelby County, on a farm about a mile east of Corley. During the year 1883 he was united in marriage to Bertha Waltman (Woltmann). To this union five children were born, four preceding the father in death. In the course of time they retired from the farm and moved to Harlan where he has since made his home.
During the past four years the deceased has been in failing health. However, he was able to move about most of the time and his death came without warning and he had been his usual self until Thursday. His end came early Friday morning July 11th at about 3 a. m.
He leaves to mourn his departure his sorrowing widow, one son Earnest, four grandchildren, three brothers, John M. of Harlan, Julius of Mitchell, South Dakota, Ernest of Avoca; two sisters, Mrs. W. F. Bauer of Harlan and Mrs. Will Reyelt of Shenandoah, besides the large circle of more distant relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held from his late home on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p. m., Rev. Walter F. Kicker of Walnut, Iowa, officiating. Burial was made in the Avoca cemetery. (The Journal-Herald, Thursday, July 24, 1930, p. 1)
Bertha Hansen (Jim’s great-grandmother). Rites Friday For Aged Corley Lady Funeral services for Mrs. Peter Hansen, 88, of Corley will be held at the Pauley Home for Funerals in Harlan, Friday at 2 p.m. Mrs. Hansen died at her home in Corley Tuesday.
Bertha Sophia Hansen, a daughter of Henry Woltmann and his wife, Dorothy Bach, was born August 26, 1866 in Germany. She came to this country in 1880 settling at Durant. She came to this community and was married to Peter Hansen on September 28, 1883.
They began married life on a farm east of Corley and later lived in Avoca and Harlan. Mrs. Hansen moved to Corley 25 years ago when her husband died.
She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ernest Hansen; four grandchildren, Mrs. Einer Jacobsen, Mrs. George Knudsen, Walter and Dewey Hansen; 11 great grandchildren; a brother, Peter Woltmann of Avoca and a sister, Mrs. Recca Grage of Manilla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, two sons, two daughters, three brothers and a sister. (The Journal-Herald, March 1955)
Mr. Peter Hansen (Jim and Marlene’s great-great-grandfather) died at his home in Avoca on Monday, July 8, 1895 at 9 o’clock in the forenoon. The funeral was held from the family residence on Wednesday July 10th, at 1 o’clock p.m., and was attended by a very large concourse.
Mr. Hansen was an old and very respected citizen of this place, and his death is regretted by an extensive circle of friends. He had been in failing health for some time past. (Avoca Herald, July 11, 1895)