Rosemary “Penny” (Prusha) Hansen
February 5, 1936 – January 30, 2022
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 9th from 5pm to 7pm at Our Lady of Carter Lake Catholic Church, followed by VIGIL SERVICE at 7pm. MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Thursday, February 10th at 10am, Our Lady of Carter Lake Catholic Church, 3501 N. 9th St. in Carter Lake, IA.. Interment, Calvary Cemetery.
To view live broadcasts of the Vigil Service and Mass, please go to www.heafeyheafey.com and click the “View Live Cast” button on the home page.
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Preceded in death by husband, Harry Hansen, Sr.; son, Harry Hansen, Jr., grandson, Cody Bequette; parents, Emil and Rose Prusha; brother, Tony Prusha. Survived by brothers, Emil “Skip” and Richard Prusha; children: Joseph (Shelly), Laura Bequette, Andrew (Wanda), Michael (Cathy), Barbara (Steve) Branson; grandchildren: David Bequette (Neleigh), Joseph Hansen, Angela Townsend(Keith), Andrew Hansen, Victoria Keener (Clark), Kevin “Bubba” Bequette, Erica Branson, Katherine Branson, Stephanie Hansen and Miranda Hansen; great-grandchildren: Alexis Bequette, Michael Stewart, Andrew Hansen, Keith Townsend, Jr., Kaden Boettger, Caleb Baustian, Maddelynn Bequette, Zachary Hansen, Tessa Townsend, Kayleigh Bequette, Elizabeth Branson, Emma Branson, Travis Hansen and Peyton Keener.
Growing up, Penny had planned to join the convent to become a nun until she met the love of her life, Harry Hansen. They married on June 21, 1958. From 1959 to 1965 Penny and Harry had six children. With 6 kids all under the age of six, Penny wanted to go to work for just six months to get a little nest egg built up so she took a position at Standard Chemical. That six months turned into 25 years.
Even with her busy life of taking care of her family and work, she still found time to make costumes for school plays, go to baseball and basketball games, teach CCD Classes on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings and even go on a Girl Scouts camping trip. Penny bowled every Sunday night with Harry, mother, brothers and sisters-in-law.
In October 1975 Penny and Julie Stringer entered nine months of training with Father Richard Gubbles to be a lay minister. On June 20, 1976, she was commissioned by Bishop Maurice J. Dingman at Queen of Apostles Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa and soon after began visiting local hospitals praying with the sick and giving communion.
In 1976 Tim Long came into her life through her kids and he became another son to her. About the same time, her mother could no longer live alone so Penny took her in. With all she had going on, she still found time to travel with Harry on a cruise to Hawaii, numerous different states to visit family, and even a few bowling tournaments.
When Harry got sick, Penny, the kids and her granddaughter cared for him. Through her granddaughter she met Justin Rutherford and he became very special to her. After Harry’s passing, Andy and wife, Wanda, took her to her first and only Cub’s game. A few years later, Penny took a pilgrimage trip with Our Lady of Carter Lake Catholic Church.
Penny was a member of the Holy Family Institute and prayed daily for families she never met and for her own family.
The last three years, Penny lived in Virginia with family. Penny said she was blessed and lived a good life with Harry and her family.
3 Comments
Penny shared her bedroom with me when I was attending the old College of
St. Mary. She and I wee both studious so we got along very well. She was a kind, thoughtful and caring lady. May her soul rest in peace. She is now in Heaven with her husband.
Penny was an amazing women. She lived a great life. Our condolences 🙏 to all the family and friends. She made an impact in many folks lives. Heaven got a great one. She will be missed and her legacy will live on through everyone she impacted during her life.
So sorry to know that Penny no longer walks the earth with us. She was a very kind person.
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