Lillian Hansel

Lillian A. “Lil” Hansel, 93, of West Union, Iowa died Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital in West Union, Iowa.

Lil was born August 17, 1925 to Albert and Anna Bertina (Anderson) Halverson near Postville, Iowa.  She became a child of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism on September 13, 1925 at the West Clermont Lutheran Church, Clermont, Iowa. On May 5, 1940 she was confirmed at this same church.  Lil attended school in Clermont and graduated from Clermont High School in 1943.  She married George “Mick” Schroyer on April 18, 1946 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.  They lived in West Union about five years before Mick took a new job working road construction. For the next five years they moved to different towns in Iowa before moving back to West Union.  During this period Lil and Mick were blessed with two children, Michael and Debra. After their return the family joined Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union.  Lil started working at the West Union School in Food Service as a cook.  After Mick’s death in 1977, Lil continued working and married Squire Hansel of Wadena, Iowa in January of 1981.  Lil continued working in the school system while Squire farmed and raced quarter horses.  After Squire passed away in 1988, Lil continued working.  She finally retired from the school in 2001 after forty-one years of service.

Lil was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Palmer Lutheran Auxiliary.  She was very involved with her two children, three grandchildren, and ten great grandchildren.  She played cards with a very special group of six ladies. In addition, these ladies would participate in a little gambling at different places, usually around one of their birthdays.  The group would walk at the West Union Rec Center in the summer and would walk the halls of the school in the winter. After their walk they would “have” to go for coffee and talking, usually at Hardees.  Lil preferred doing things herself but, every now and then would accept help with the understanding that “I am still the Boss”. This attitude was apparent even in her last few days at the hospital.  The family has written proof.

Those left behind to cherish her memories are her son, Mike of West Union, Iowa; grandchildren. Michelle (Barry) Armstrong of Guttenburg, Iowa; Chad Schroyer of Garnavillo, Iowa; and Janell (Matt) McElree of West Union, Iowa; ten great grandchildren, Antonio Armstrong of Dubuque, Iowa; Dakota Schroyer of McGregor, Iowa; Ke’Andre Armstrong of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Erica Armstrong of Fayette, Iowa; Cayden, Ashton, and Bryson Schroyer of Garnavillo, Iowa; Peyton and Maxwell McElree of West Union, Iowa; and Trevor Harbaugh of Garnavillo, Iowa; son-in-law, John Dessel of West Union, Iowa; brother, Louis (Darlene) Halverson of Stoughton, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Mary Schroyer of West Union, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Lil was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Mick Schroyer and Squire Hansel; her daughter, Debra Dessel, on March 31, 2018; her daughter-in-law, Sharon Schroyer, on March 26, 2013; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Francis and Robert Bemiss, and Irene and Alvin Ruroden; and two brothers and sisters-in-law, DeVere and Norma Halverson, and Harold and Gladys Halverson.

  Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019 at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union, Iowa with Rev. Don Best as the officiant.

Visitation was held 4:30 pm until 7:00 pm Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019 at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home in West Union, Iowa.

Internment was held in the West Union Cemetery, West Union, Iowa.

Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Services of West Union, Iowa is assisting the family with arrangements.