Annette Mae Hanson

Annette Mae Hanson, 76, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 18, 2018 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida.

Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 14, 2018 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Winthrop Minnesota with Pastor Erik Karlson officiating. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church.

Anne had been in Sacred Hospital several times over the past 6 months due to pneumonia and other complications with her illnesses. In 2005 Anne spent three weeks in this very same hospital recovering from a severe case of septic shock and was dubbed by the staff as the ‘THE MIRACLE LADY’ that survived. The following year with her love for the hospital that saved her life, she became a volunteer working several days a week during her winter snowbird days.

Anne was born June 25, 1941 to Arvid and Mae (Norelius) Molstrom and grew up on a small farm outside of Cannon Falls Minnesota, she graduated from Cannon Falls High School; class of 1958. She than attended Macalester College and St. Barnabas School of Nursing where she received her degree as a Registered Nurse. Ann began her nursing career at St. Barnabas Hospital in intensive surgical care, then to Veteran’s Hospital in Minneapolis. In 1972 Anne began teaching Health Occupations at Sibley County Vocational School. In 1976 Anne became head nurse of the emergency room at Union Hospital in New Ulm, which later became Sioux Valley Hospital. After over 10 years in the ER at New Ulm, Anne closed out her nursing career as a triage nurse at Aspen Medical in Bloomington where she remained until retirement…. or maybe part-time retirement!!

Anne married Ronald Hanson on April 26, 1963 at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis; this April they were celebrating 55 years of marriage. Anne and Ron resided in Winthrop their entire marriage and raised three children; Steve, Scott and Julie.

In her spare time Anne loved reading, sewing, gardening, craft projects and decorating/entertaining for the holidays; in 1998 her Christmas decorating landed her in the Tour of Homes.  She also loved to travel with her husband Ron; together they enjoyed many cruises, trips to Europe, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and several family US road trips. The past 14 years Anne spent her winters in Destin Florida with her Snowbird family, being involved in their many activities. Anne was best known for throwing darts and captained on two teams. Her most recent hobbies included I-Pad games, trying to figure out her I-phone and enjoying all the animal posts on Facebook while eating chocolate chip ice cream and Cheetos!

Anne’s early passion included acting and theatre where she and friends in the 70’s created Winthrop Community Theatre. Anne enjoyed the planning, working with sets and costumes, and acted in many of the plays; she took the lead role in Barefoot in the Park.

Anne is survived by her husband, Ronald Hanson of Winthrop, three children; Steve (Barbara) of River Falls WI, Scott (Melanie) of Blaine, and Julie (John) Whitbeck of Winthrop; brother Earl (Deanne) Molstrom of Hastings; granddaughters, Brittany (fiancée Chris Daley) Hanson, Emmalyse Hanson, Amanda (Blake) Berg and Lacy Knutson; great-granddaughter, Lillian Claire Berg; niece Shelly (Jim) Rohr; nephews, Kevin Molstrom, David (Mary) Drake, Douglas Drake; sister-in-law, Rhoda (Ben) Drake; Anne was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorials are preferred to the Winthrop City Library or Winthrop Cemetery tree planting project.

Arrangements by Mankato Mortuary. www.mankatomortuary.com