Joy Elaine Hansen

Joy Elaine Hansen, 74, of San Diego, CA and formerly of Des Moines, IA, passed away peacefully after a short illness on September 24, 2024, at BonitaView Sharp Hospice Home in San Diego, CA. Born to Lester W. and Gretchen Hansen on December 24, 1949, in Sioux City, IA., she grew up in Des Moines, IA. Joy graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1968 the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy in Iowa City in 1973.

Joy’s Life was characterized by her passion for knowledge mixed with her Caring Spirit. The Cornerstone of Joy’s personality was her perseverance and competitiveness starting as a child in backyard tetherball, wiffleball, basketball, and advancements in Camp Fire Girls.

After graduation, Joy returned to Des Moines to work at two separate retail pharmacies – Forker Pharmacy and then Drug Mart Pharmacy. Her Des Moines experiences provided lifelong professional and personal mentorship with humorous stories from the pharmacist owners!

During the Des Moines, IA winter of 1979, Joy impulsively sold her car, terminated her apartment lease and moved to San Diego, CA. She was hired by Long’s Drugs, and quickly became a Pharmacy Manager with the responsibility of opening Long’s Drugs in Del Mar, West Point Loma, La Jolla, and Pacific Beach, CA. She started with empty stores and produced fully operational pharmacies organized with computer systems, stocked with pharmaceutical inventory, hired pharmacists, managed the staff and assisted with patient’s clinical needs for 44 years. She would smile and brag about her lunch breaks at the Pacific Beach location -- across the street by the ocean!

She became the Ultimate San Diegan and capitalized on the many local events in Southern California. She had tickets to the San Diego Chargers, Padres, plays, local historical events, San Diego Zoo, Sea World and participated in Softball and “Over The Line”.

Sports dominated her interests and life! She was knowledgeable about each sport and vocal about her alma mater, the Iowa Hawkeyes! The pharmacy provided the perfect environment for collecting memorabilia for her chosen teams.

Joy’s family and friends were extremely important. She would do anything to help them celebrate their success or help in times of need. She was known for writing a personal poem to match the event with the person.

Joy loved people; and studied Genealogy. Her interest in family from previous years matched her love of Photography. Joy never missed an opportunity to record a “Snapshot of Time”, often saying, “Just one more”.

Joy will be fondly remembered for her enthusiasm about her name. Joy was born on Christmas Eve, and she was given the perfect name! She was proud of her name and used JOY throughout her home, on greeting cards, letters, and even her license plate read “Real Joy”! She was a JOY and a JOY to others.

Joy was preceded in death by her parents (Lester and Gretchen Hansen); grandparents (Thomas and Rosa Hosman and Oscar and Agnes Hansen); cousin (Karen Hansen); sister-in-law (Linda J Hansen), Aunts and Uncles.

Joy is survived by her brother, Dr. David Hansen (San Diego, CA); Nephew, John (Erika) Hansen (West Des Moines, IA); niece Stephanie (Brandon) Spann (La Jolla, CA); Great Niece, Morgan Hansen, Great Nephew, Van Hansen, Great Niece Harper Hansen, (West Des Moines, IA); Great Nephews William Spann and Nolan Spann (La Jolla, CA); Cousin Michael Hansen (Linda Kazarian) (Lakeside, CA); many family members and lifelong friends whom she embraced from her childhood through adulthood.

The Memorial Service and inurnment will be with family and friends at Cypress View Mausoleum Chapel and Mortuary in San Diego, CA on Friday January 10, 2025, at 11am--1:45pm.

Please let us know if you will be attending the services so that we may plan accordingly. You can email [email protected].

Online condolences may be directed to (Joy Elaine Hansen Memorial): https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/san-diego-ca/joy-hansen-12011366

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be sent to Cypress View Mortuary, c/o Dave Hansen, 3953 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA 92113. The donations will be divided among Joy’s favorite charities.