Gertrude Hansel

Gertrude Hansel of Cedar Rapids, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2017; she was 97. Graveside Service: 3:00p.m. Friday, April 21, 2017, at Taylorsville Cemetery, Arlington, Iowa. Arrangements with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Survivors include her son, Lee (Susan Hastings) Hansel of Brookfield, Wisconsin; daughter, Ann Hansel of Cedar Rapids; and sister-in-law, Patricia Nus of Cedar Park, Texas. Gert was born January 20, 1920, in Arlington, Iowa, the middle child of Frank and Mary Wilhemina (Schmidt) Nus. She eagerly looked forward to the large annual family reunions on the farm and was active in St. John's Church. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1937. After working in a munitions plant in California with her sister during WWII, she returned to Iowa, settling in Cedar Rapids. Gert took a job at Killian's Department Store in the Portrait Studio; it was there she met Lawrence Hansel. They married in 1951. Gert was a long time member of First Lutheran Church. She loved her flower gardens, big band music, song birds, and crossword puzzles. Gertrude was preceded in death by her husband, Larry, who died in 2005; parents; and, six brothers and sisters. Donations can be directed to Higley Mansion Care Center. The family would like to thank everyone at Higley Mansion for the wonderful, warm hearted care they showed to Gert during her stay.