Chocolate, children laughing, gardening, serving others and Jesus are all things this woman loved. Janice "Jan" Louise Hostetler Hanson was born on Wednesday, May 2, 1951 in Waterloo, Iowa. Peacefully, she entered the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at the Israel Family Hospice Home in Ames, Iowa.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at the Ankeny Free Church, 118 NW Linden Street, Ankeny, Iowa 50023.
She was the 3rd of six children born to Roger and Marjorie Hostetler. Most of her favorite memories took place on the family farm near Janesville where she learned to love animals, raw milk and praying for rain. Dancing with her mom and dad in the rain is one of her absolute favorite memories. In the time of Go Go Boots and miniskirts, Jan graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1969. The next summer she married Steve Hanson, and the adventure began as they moved to Napa, California where Jan worked as a Secretary to the Director of Vocational Education. In 1975, the couple returned to Iowa where Jan worked as an Executive Secretary at Deere & Company until the couple started their family. Birthing four girls in five years added more adventure to the family, lots of laughter and a whole lot of love. The gift of hospitality was evident to all who knew Jan. The Hanson home became the hangout spot in the neighborhood, where kids played daily and Jan truly felt she was living her best life.
Over the years, Jan was involved in her church in numerous positions such as AWANA, nursery, Sunday School Teacher, Community Group Co-leader, Children's Choir Director, event planner and more.
In 1987, the moving years began as the family moved eight times, finally ending up in Ankeny in 1991. Jan diligently worked in the bookstore at Faith Baptist Bible College, and when they saw her talents she quickly became the Executive Secretary in the Development Office. In 1998, she began a ten year career at Care Initiatives, and in 2008 she started one of her all-time favorite jobs at Architectural Arts in Des Moines. She loved this job because she had the honor of being the shop/office mom, and being a mom is what she did best! Jan retired in 2016 due to issues with her health.
Jan will be remembered as someone who spread kindness, loved well and didn't know a stranger. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Steve Hanson; her four daughters, Heather (Dennis) Knittel, Sarah (Matt) Cubit, Andrea (Michael) Crowson, and Rebecca (Mario) Hanson; nine grandchildren; one great grandchild; all five of her siblings, and her beloved dog, Sammy.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AnkenyFuneralHome.com for the Hanson family.
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