Donna M. Hanson

Donna Hanson, 92, of rural Waterford, Wisconsin, was born into eternal life on October 4, 2025. A cherished family matriarch, devoted follower of Jesus, and valued friend and neighbor, she will be remembered as a kind, competent, and loyal carer and builder of community. She could do just about anything and she worked very hard her whole life.

Donna Mae, born June 29, 1933, to Johnalbert and Esther Malchine, had an older sister Joan Mary and younger brother John Lee. She was baptized and confirmed at Norway Lutheran Church. She attended Col. Heg Grade School and graduated from Waterford High School in 1951.

She married Donald "Duke" Hanson on June 20, 1953, at the old Norway church on the hill, moving to the Hanson farm three miles away from home, where she lived for the next 72 years. She loved raising their three children, Jim, Karen, and David, on the Hanson farm.

Donna served in various capacities at Norway Church - in choir, Martha Clausen Guild, Church Council, as a Luther League counselor, high school Sunday School teacher, historian and planner of anniversary celebrations, and hostess of lutefisk dinners (she actually loved the stuff!). She organized many church-sponsored bus trips to various destinations in the U.S.

She loved attending youth Bible camp at Lutherdale and Family camp with Erik and Alex in later years. She was Norway 4-H general and project leader and served in Farm Bureau's cream puff stand at the county fair for many years. She worked at Trimborn Electric, North Cape School, and J.C. Penney's, as well as on the farm. She liked nothing better than being a farm girl.

Donna enjoyed sports events, especially high school games involving all the youth in her life. She liked young people and it showed, as she kept close relationships with many of her kids’ and grandkids’ friends and her Sunday School and 4-H kids. She was fond of music, travel, rosemaling, hardanger embroidery, and oil painting. She loved her front porch, birdsong, and her beautiful flower garden.

Donna was preceded in death by her dear husband Duke and son Dave, her parents and siblings, and many beloved relatives and friends.

She is survived by Jim and Sue Hanson, Karen Hanson and Kathleen Fjelstul, and Deanna Hanson and Scott Smith; Alex and Kristin, Beau and Otto Hanson; Erik and Payton, Madden and Lennon Hanson; sister-in-law Doris Malchine, brother-in-law Bill Hanson, many nieces, nephews, godchildren, and other relatives.

Memorial visitation will be held 9:30AM-10:45AM Thursday, October 9, 2025 at NORWAY LUTHERAN CHURCH (6321 Heg Park Road, Wind Lake, WI 53185), with a funeral service to follow at 11AM. Memorials are suggested to Norway Lutheran Church or Lutherdale Bible Camp.

Donna lived her life like her flower garden, bold, beautiful, resilient, and joyful. May her memory be a blessing to all who knew her. As Donna would say, “Takk for alt!"

Mealy-Stencel Funeral Home is proudly serving the Hanson family.

1. Mealy-Stencel Funeral Home
2. 225 W. Main Street Waterford, WI 53185
3. 262-534-2233
4. www.stencelfh.com