Marge Hanson

BESSEMER, Mich. – Marge Hanson, 77, of Bessemer, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at her home. She is healthy again, she can breathe.

Marge was born on July 8, 1944, in Ashland, Wisconsin, a daughter of Sylvester and Cora (Watland) Tomczak. She attended St. Sebastian Grade School and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer in 1962. Marge attended Gogebic Community College and received degrees in food service and early childhood education.

She worked at numerous area restaurants over the years, but mostly enjoyed cooking for her family.

When her grandchildren were young, Marge enjoyed letting them experiment in her kitchen. She taught children's church for many years at the Assembly of God Church in Ironwood.

Holidays, especially the Fourth of July, were always a high point. Marge never let a Fourth go by without gifting everyone she knew with a paper flower of two. She was making paper flowers right up until the day she slipped away from us. Surely Marge is in heaven teaching a paper flower class right now. 

The Fourth of July was always special in Bessemer and Marge loved to watch the fireworks launched from the top of the bluff from her yard at the base of the bluff, surrounded by her family.

She had a lifetime love of reading, writing letters and sending cards to people for every occasion. At one point, Marge had a dozen penpals that she called friends. She enjoyed making her own paper dolls as a child and continued to make them for her children and her grandchildren for many years. Marge loved arts and crafts and passed that love on to her children and grandchildren as well.

She never let an occasion slip by without cards and letters to so many that she knew.

When Marge was a child, she loved to go sledding on Sellar Street and skating at the ice rink under the shade of the bluff, where she met her first husband, Carl. 

They married and raised their four children on Moore Street under the shade of the bluff and later when the Moore Street rink was converted into a park, she won the contest to name the park, "Bluff Valley Park." It made her so happy to spend time at the park with her six grandchildren. She loved the fall leaves, Lake Superior, the Bessemer Library and passed that love on to her children.

 On Nov. 13, 1993, Marge married Dave Hanson and they made their home in Bessemer until the time of her death.

Marge is survived by her husband, Dave; her four children, Mary (Dennis) McRae, JoAnne (Christopher) Bartlett, Jennifer (Terry) France and Carl Anderson Jr .; six grandchildren, who she adored, Eric and Matthew McRae, Tonya (Tim) Keate, Joshua (Sara) Bartlett, and Noah and Maddie France; three siblings, Susan (Ladd) Honkala, Kathy (Kent) Tenney and JoAnn Works; her sister-in-law, Jan Tomczak; and many nieces and nephews, who she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Matthew Anderson, at birth; a granddaughter, Sarah Lynn McRae, at birth; a brother, Tony Tomczak; a nephew, Ladd Honkala Jr .; and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marilyn and Oscar Hanson.

Services are planned for Monday, Nov. 8, at the Assembly of God Church, 2100 E. Cloverland Drive, in Ironwood. Family visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the public visitation starting at 10 a.m., until the time of the service at 11 a.m. The Rev. Mark Ortman will officiate.

Following the service, a meal will be served at Manny's Restaurant, 316 E. Hauk St., in Ironwood.

Burial will take place at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Bessemer, in the spring when the lilacs are blooming.

The family would like to thank Michele Harma and the staff at Aspirus Hurley, Wisconsin, Clinic; Amy Koelling and staff at Marshfield Clinic in Minocqua, Wisconsin, and the wonderful pharmacists and staff at the Ironwood Walmart and the White Cross Pharmacy in Hurley for many years of caring for our mom.

Rest now mom and enjoy your new found health and peace until we meet again.

Jerald Rocco, owner and manager of Lakeside Memorial Chapel Inc., in Wakefield, is assisting the family with their arrangements. Condolences may be expressed online at lakesidememorialchapel.com.