Jan Hanson

Janet Ruth Hanson was born on October 7, 1948 to Robert L. and Helen G. Hanson in Fostoria, Iowa, located a few miles south of Milford, during a brief time they did not live in the family home in Milford. Aunt Frances (Orr) Morgensen attended the doctor during the home birth. Jan had an older and younger sister, but she was always a “Daddy’s girl” and the favored child with a pleasant, agreeable attitude.

The family moved to the big city (Des Moines) when she was 5 years old and it was an easy transition for her to adjust to the new TV, Saturday morning cartoons and daily Mickey Mouse Club. She was in elementary school when we moved to a new home in a new subdivision outside the Des Moines School District which put us in the Johnston School District. She enjoyed her school years until she was ready for High School and the subdivision was incorporated into the Des Moines School District.

She had to choose between North High (with a large black majority), Tech (decidedly “low class”) and Roosevelt High (school of the wealthy). She reluctantly chose Roosevelt as the lesser of two evils and, leaving behind all her friends in Johnston, ended up in an alien environment. It didn’t help that dollars were scarce at home during this time. Jan worked part time jobs throughout high school to earn her spending money, which did not allow her to dress in a manner comparable to girls from wealthy families. Fortunately, her outgoing personality and impeccable sense of style brought her through her teen years in good shape and instilled in her an appreciation of money that served her well throughout life.

After graduation she worked for Iowa Realty, then an employment agency and later managed a large apartment complex. She has a brief marriage in her early 20’s that ended in divorce with no children. She never remarried. She and a friend toyed with the idea of moving to Las Vegas to become casino dealers but she ended up moving to Phoenix Arizona, in 1977 where she became a legal secretary.

She enjoyed her 47 years in Phoenix. She had a group of friends who enjoyed parties and bars. She belonged to a bowling league (with her ball named “Bob”) and a league of dart players that lasted for years. Some friends made frequent trips to Vegas with her – she explained to me it was a matter of how much you wanted to spend on your vacation.

She worked for the Roger Marce Law Firm for many years, taking a few years off in the early 90’s to live in San Diego, CA, returning to the Law Firm until retirement about 6 years ago. During retirement she enjoyed holidays with family, traveling, Black & Bling events and Motown & Golden Oldies concerts. She and her sister Connie had a special vacation touring the Hawaiian Islands. She has always enjoyed her freedom and was most comfortable being responsible for herself. She enjoyed her family and a special group of friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister Mary Lou (Mark) Henderson. She is survived by her sister Connie Kevorkian; nephews Mark Tully, Jared Henderson and Joe Henderson; nieces Laura (Doug) Quarnberg, Valerie (Shannon) Gerton and Jennifer Henderson and their children.

Her life was cut short by a stroke. She was in Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center for evaluation before transferring to Hospice Ryan House where she left this life on August 19, 2024 surrounded by family and friends.