Neta Eileen Hansen Obituary (1923

Neta Eileen Hansen was born May 27, 1923 at Urbana, Iowa, the daughter of Walter and Opal Rouse Smith. She graduated from Urbana High School with the class of 1941 and then attended Cedar Rapids Business College. Neta was united in marriage to Leland L. Hansen at the Urbana Christian Church on August 18, 1943. To this union were born four children: Lucretia, Kenneth, Dennis, and Debra. Neta worked for McGladrey, Hansen, and Dunn while Leland served in WWII. They moved to a farm south of Lamont in 1955, where they farmed and raised prize winning Jersey cattle. During that time she worked for Microswitch in Independence. In 1966 they purchased an acreage north of Lamont where they lived until moving into town in 2001. Neta worked as the secretary to the principal at the Lamont center of Starmont Schools for 20 years. Neta and Lee loved to fish and camp. Their second home was their motor home where they camped at Lake MacBride State Park, Guttenberg City Park, and Blackhawk Memorial Park in Wisconsin. They were avid Hawkeye fans, especially the Iowa Women's basketball team. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister who thoroughly enjoyed her visits with all of her family. She was a loving caregiver during Leland's final months. Lee entered into his eternal rest June 4, 2005. Neta was a "people person" and an active and faithful member of numerous community organizations including the Grace United Methodist Church and the Eunice Circle; the Lamont Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star; the Lamont American Legion Auxiliary, working diligently at all activities especially the fish fries; the Social Neighbor's Club; and several 500 card clubs. Neta Hansen entered into her eternal rest on Sunday, December 30, 2007, at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo following a short illness at the age of 84. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Leland. Survivors include her four children: Lucretia "Tish" Frye of Independence; Kenneth (Myla) Hansen of Winthrop; Dennis (Marilyn) Hansen of Solon; and Debra (Monte) Johnson of Raymond; eleven grandchildren: Rick Frye, Scott (Shalon) Frye, Jeff Frye, Andy (Angie) Hansen, Meagan (Josh) Devlin, Barry (Gayle) Hansen, Sharee (Scott) Seagren, Kyle Hansen, Chris Johnson, Chad Johnson, Kevin (Corrie) Johnson; ten great grandchildren: Taylor Johnson, Austin & Cameron Johnson, Kerrigan & Kaydon Johnson, Carson & Jaxson Frye, Nathan Hansen, Lillian Devlin, and Nolan Seagren; two sisters: Venoa Swatzbaugh of Vinton and Donna Drum of Cedar Falls; two brothers: Merwin (Bud) Smith of Urbana and Wayne Smith of San Jose, CA; and many other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, January 4, 2008, at the Grace United Methodist Church in Lamont with Pastor John Brockschink officiating. Music will be provided by Karen Kremer and Shalon Frye. Casketbearers will be her eleven grandchildren and honorary bearers will be her ten great grandchildren. Interment will be in Campton Cemetery east of Lamont. Friends may call from 3 PM until 8 PM Thursday at the Fawcett Funeral Home in Lamont where there will be an Eastern Star Service at 8 PM Thursday. Friends may call at the Church after 10 AM on Friday. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.fawcettsfuneralhome.com under obituaries.