Beverly Hansen

Bev Hansen was a wonderful woman, a woman who devoted her life to helping others, caring for them, and loving them. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a friend to so many. Bev was famous for her thoughtful cards and angel pins she gave others, just part of her long legacy of love that lives on today.

Bev's story began on a cool spring day in 1927, in the bustling city of Battle Creek, Michigan. Those were exciting times in this country, in the heyday of the Roaring 20s, and the calm before the storm of the Great Depression. There was much to celebrate in 1927, especially for Herbert and Mary Jane (Brundage) Poole. On April 1, 1927, the couple celebrated the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Beverly.

Bev joined her sisters Shirley and Norma in the family home in Battle Creek, and being the oldest, she learned to care for others from a young age. When she was just a young woman, she began to care for someone else, as well. She met a handsome young man named Bill Hansen one day, while he was making his rounds driving his delivery truck. The year was 1941, and Bev was just 14, but the two made a connection, and began spending time together.

With the dark skies of World War II upon our shores, the young couple was soon separated, as Bill joined the Air Force in 1942, anxious to serve his country in its time of need. The two kept in contact, as Bev faithfully wrote to Bill while he was gone overseas. When the war ended and Bill was finally discharged four years later, he bee-lined it back home, back to his beloved Bev. Finally reunited, the two wasted little time, and were married on May 25, 1946, beginning a wonderful life together.

Bev loved being Bill's bride, and it wasn't long before the husband and wife became father and mother, as well. The couple was blessed with two beautiful children, her sons Herbert and Michael, who meant so much to them.

With Bev's personal life in full bloom, her professional life began to blossom, as well. She had attended nursing school at Percy Jones Hospital in Battle Creek, as well as the Community Hospital. The family moved from Battle Creek to the charming town of Vicksburg in 1948, a community they would come to love dearly. They lived in the same house there from 1948 until 1957, when they moved to Portage Road, a wonderful home where Bev would remain until 2005. Bev worked as an office nurse for doctors Rogers and Appell in Vicksburg for many years, just one of the ways she touched so many people.

Bev was also a devoted member of the Lakeland Reformed Church in Vicksburg, where she made such a difference. She was trained as a Stephan ministry, and served as a care elder partner. Bev was very active in many different aspects of the church, though, and also helped out with many funeral dinners there and helped make special Easter decorations every year. If that weren't enough, she also was part of a team at church that baked and donated more than 4,000 Christmas cookies every year!

Bev was also a lifetime member of the Lotus Lily United #262 Order of the Eastern Star, where she made so many close friends over the years. Of course, Bev made friends wherever she went, through the kindness of her heart and terrific personality. She loved to go bowling, and she and Bill bowled for more than 30 years together at the bowling alley in Vicksburg, and she also loved to play Bingo, too. In her spare time, she enjoyed making crafts out of plastic, or crocheting beautiful items. Most of all, she simply loved helping others any way she could.

Bev became well-known as the "card and angel lady," for the thoughtful mementos she sent people, whether they were shut-ins, grieving, or simply having rough times in their lives. She would often jot down a few kind thoughts and send it to them, or send them one of her trademark angel pins, to let them know she was thinking and praying for them.

Her beloved Bill died in July of 2000, yet she persevered through her many friends and her faith in the Lord. In 2005, Bev's declining health forced her to move to the Upjohn Nursing Home, after nearly 50 years in Vicksburg. Sadly, she died on Monday, November 27, 2006 at Alterra Wynwood in Portage.

Bev was a wonderful woman, a woman who devoted her life to caring for others. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, and a friend to so many over the years. Bev was known as the card and angel lady, for the thoughts and gifts she sent others, just a part of her long legacy of love. Today her love, and her legacy, lives on in all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.

Learn more about Bev, view her Life Story film, and visit with her family and friends Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, RDMG, 409 S. Main, Vicksburg. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the same location. A reception will follow immediately after the service at Lakeland Reformed Church. Eastern Star Rites will be conducted by Lotus Lily United #262 Order of the Eastern Star Friday evening

Members of Bev's family include her son Herbert and his wife Kim Hansen of Kalamazoo and daughter-in-law Deanna Hansen of Holland 6 grandchildren: Benjamin, Jonathan, Bethany, Matthew, Kelly, and Amanda, a Great grandchild Gavin, 2 sisters: Shirley Hamilton of Battle Creek, Norma (Sam) and her husband Bill Fleming of Vicksburg, step mother Lucy Poole of Florida, In-laws Rosemary Hansen, John and Florine Hoffman of Ludington, 6 special nieces and a special nephew Besides her husband, she follows in death her son Michael, her parents, In-laws William and Nellie Hansen and two brother-in-laws: Alfred Hamilton and Arthur Hansen.

Please visit Bev's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read her Life Story, archive a favorite memory or photo, order flowers or make a memorial donation to the Lakeland Reformed Church, or a charity of your choice.