Barbara “Bobbi” Hanson

(nee Roehrborn) Entered God’s loving arms on Friday, June 12, 2020.  Age 87.  Preceded in death by her husband, Leonard A. Hanson, her sister, Arleene (the late Richard) Pelnar and her parents, Harry and Doris (nee Walk) Roehrborn.  Loving mother of Sherri Heintz, Kevin (Sandy) Hanson, Alan (Karen) Hanson, and Karri (Soheil) Fakhriravari.  Cherished grandmother of Lisa (Marc) Savatski, Kristi (Brenden) Olds, Dana (Zachary) Hertzberg, Shawn Thomas, Brad Hanson, Brett Hanson, Nicholas Fakhriravari, Natalie Fakhriravari, and great-grandmother of Olivia, Sawyer, Violet, Marriah and Arriana.  Bobbi will be missed by her dear companion Gene Porte, nephews Craig and Scott, other relatives and friends.

Bobbi was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin and lived in Neillsville, Wisconsin, where her parents ran a general merchandise store.  When Bobbi was 12, the family sold the store and retired in Neillsville.  She graduated from Neillsville High School in 1950.  At age 17, she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and worked in the office at F.W. Woolworth.  She lived in an all-girls Lutheran Walther League, where she met Viola Hanson, Len’s sister.  In 1953, Len was discharged from the Army and returned from Korea.  Vi set up Bobbi and Len for a date and Mom asked if he was tall enough for her to wear heals!

Len took her to meet his family in Mauston in September of 1954 and proposed.  The happy couple were married at Garden Homes Lutheran Church in Milwaukee on November 27, 1954 and honeymooned in New York City.  They returned to Milwaukee and lived on the near north side.

Bobbi and Len started their family in 1956 when Sherri was born and moved into the home on 89^th street 6 months later.  Kevin was born in 1959, Al in 1962 and Karri came along in 1968.  The family adopted a German Shepherd named Sparky in 1965, keeping up the “every three years” timeline.

Bobbi was an avid crafter.  She loved to knit, crochet, sew and paint ceramics.  She could make something out of nothing!  She also had a thriving garden, loved playing cards and enjoyed entertaining family and friends.  Her favorite snack was popcorn – just ask Gene!

She held various part time jobs as the kids grew older, including lunch lady at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.  She joined the church choir and had the most beautiful voice.  She was involved with the Wisconsin Lutheran High School band and joined many band trips with Len as chaperone.

Bobbi organized wonderful family vacations that she paid for by saving nickels, dimes and quarters.  Most of the early vacations included her love of fishing.  We rented cabins or went camping near a lake.  Bobbi could catch a fish casually sitting on the pier.

She was always outside and could spend hours digging dandelions in the yard.  We have Mom to thank for countless hours of raking leaves in the woods and getting the grass to grow up north at the cabin.  She planted trees with all the grand kids at the cabin and brought plants from far and wide to transplant.  Hiking in the woods usually resulted in digging up a small pine tree to move closer to the cabin.

Her family always came first, and we will truly miss her generous, loving spirit.

Visitation at Krause Funeral Home, 21600 West Capitol Drive, Brookfield, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, June 23 from 11:00 AM to 12:45 PM.  Funeral Service at 1:00 PM.  Interment at Pinelawn Memorial Park.