Shirley Hansen, 1925-2019

Published 1:00 am Thursday, December 12, 2019

Shirley Ann Loeffler Hansen, formerly of Albert Lea, currently of White Bear Lake, 94, died Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.

Shirley Hansen

Shirley was born in Albert Lea on Aug. 27, 1925, the youngest of five siblings. She was nominated for Homecoming Queen at Albert Lea High School, but didn’t vote for herself because she thought her friend, Polly, should win. Shirley graduated from high school in 1943 and enjoyed working at the telephone company during World War II.

She married Air Force pilot John Hansen in 1946, and they had two daughters, Susan and Jane.

John reenlisted in the Air Force, and they were stationed in Texas, Germany, France, Arizona, Idaho and Minnesota. After John retired, Shirley and John moved back to Albert Lea and spent many winters in Tucson, Arizona, where they enjoyed golfing and reconnecting with old friends from their Air Force days. Shirley was especially close to her sister, Ginny, had many, many friends, was a loving grandmother to her three grandchildren, got a hole in one at Green Lea Golf Course, played bridge, was a member of First Lutheran Church, loved to travel, enjoyed her great-grandchildren and kept an exceptionally clean home. If you went to the grocery store with Shirley, you were pretty sure she was the most popular person in Albert Lea! Shirley was grateful for her wonderful life, and treasured her memories of living in Europe, travel, and time spent with family and friends.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents Emil and Mamie Loeffler; husband, John Hansen; brother, Kenneth Schmidt; sisters Viola Lindholm, Bernice Christensen and Virginia Davies and their spouses; sons-in-law Craig Howe and Charles Hall, father of Joshua and Gregory Hall.

Shirley is survived by her daughters Susan Howe and Jane Hall; Jane’s partner, Russell Varineau; grandchildren Elsbeth Howe, husband, Jason Ross, Joshua Hall, wife, Kam, and Gregory Hall; great-grandchildren Annie, John and Sam Ross, and Aiden and Sadie Hall; special nephew, Dick Davies, and special great-nephew, Doug Davies, both of whom helped her a great deal; niece, Paula Crouse; great-niece, Katie Crouse; nephew, Mark Christensen; and many other nieces and nephews.

A family remembrance will be held, and, if desired, donations may be made to the Salvation Army in Albert Lea.