Arnold "Arnie" Hanson

Arnold (Arnie) G. Hanson

PIGEON FALLS, Wis. - Arnold (Arnie) G. Hanson passed away Sunday, March 26, 2006. He had been surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren since his hospitalization March 20 at Tri-County Memorial Hospital in Whitehall, Wis.

Arnold was born May 30, 1914, to Charles and Karen (Kolden) Hanson on their farm in Sand Lake Coulee near Onalaska, Wis. He attended Sand Lake Country School, graduated from Onalaska High School and attended La Crosse Teacher's College.

On June 17, 1941, Arnold married Victoria Waller at Hardies Creek Lutheran Church. They lived in Onalaska, where he delivered milk for Krause Dairy. In September 1945, they moved to the Kolden Homestead north of Pigeon Falls, that is now owned by their grandchildren, Karla and Kristoff Ausderau. Retiring from farming in 1975, Arnold then worked for the American Dairy Association and the United Bank of Osseo (Wis.).

Besides his family, community was important to Arnold. He was involved in the following organizations: Pigeon Falls Creamery Board, Caswell School Board, Trempealeau County Fair Board, Farm Bureau Board, Trempealeau County Association of Cooperative Board, Land O' Lakes Cooperative District Board, Pigeon Falls Fire Department Board, Trem-pealeau County 4-H Executive Board, Pigeon Falls Lions Club, and Pigeon Falls Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Arnold is survived by his wife, Victoria Hanson; his children Claire (Shirley) Hanson of Whitehall, Mary (Gary) Nelsestuen of St. Paul, Margaret (Bruce) Ausderau of Whitehall and Carol Hanson of West Salem, Wis.; 11 grandchildren, Carl Hanson of Gilbertsville, Ky., Carmen (Gary) Markgren of River Falls, Wis., Al (Andrea) Hanson of Strum, Wis., Sue (Michael) Richards of Stoughton, Wis., Shannon (Tracey) Leer of Blair, Wis., Cassie (Jeff) Hammond of Ettrick, Wis., Amber Leer of Whitehall, Kari (Bill Lehman) Nelsestuen of Portland, Ore., Kent (Beaty) Nelsestuen of Colorado Springs, Colo., Karla (Todd Powers) Ausderau of Los Angeles and Kristoff (fiancée Nikki Gago) Ausderau of Whitehall; and 11 great-grandchildren, Kara, Tori and Elisha Gilbert, Samantha and Abbigail Leer, Tyler and Damen Hammond, Sydney Lehman, Anika and Anya Nelsestuen and Jackson Powers.

He is also survived by brothers-in-law, Marvin Olson and Jess Olson; sisters-in-law, Alice Aleckson, Ruth Hanson, Mary Frels, Irene Waller and Leona Waller; along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

Arnold was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Conrad Hanson and Orville Hanson; and sisters, Palma Goodwin, Thelma Olson and Esther Olson.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, at Evangelical Lutheran Church, with burial in the church cemetery, both in Pigeon Falls. Pastor Dale Moe will officiate.

Visitation will be today from 4 to 8 p.m. at Jack Funeral Home in Whitehall and also one hour prior to the services at the church Wednesday.