Obituary for Mary Margaret Hanke

Mary Margaret Hanke died September 10, 2009 at St. Anthony''s Hospital in Carroll. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 10:30 am at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Webster City. Inurnment will be held at Graceland Cemetery. Mary was born on June 30, 1935 in Webster City, Iowa. She was the daughter of Howard A. and Thora E. Christensen Furman. In 1953, Mary was united in marriage to William P. Hanke. They resided in Webster City and raised nine children. In 1979, the family moved to Denison, where she lived until her death. At the age of 47, with four kids still at home, Mary graduated with top honors and received her nursing degree. In 1996, she retired from nursing, but she remained a caregiver through and through until her last days, to her children, grandchildren or any animal in need. Mary loved to feed the stray cats outside their home, enough that they were no longer strays and each had a name. One motherless newborn kitten was brought into the home, bottle-fed by Mary back to health, given the name of Ivan, and still lives in the Hanke home today. Mary was a kind and nurturing soul to all who knew her. She could always be counted on to tell you her opinion, and people respected her advice. Before her health began to decline, she loved to spend time in her beautiful yard. Later, she spent watching television (with the sound muted). She could normally be found watching a cooking, home decorating, or animal channel. Family was important to Mary and she was happiest when surrounded by her''s. Mary left behind a great number of loved ones, who are all very blessed to have known her. She is survived by her nine children, Christine (Greg) Thompson of Webster City, William F. Hanke of Sioux City, Bruce Hanke of Webster City, Elisabeth (Kenneth) Olson of Creston, Linda (Ron) Shillington of Creston, Margaret Hanke of Denison, Mary (Scott) Meyer of Denison, Christopher Hanke of Denison and Katharine (Chad) Fenn, Radcliffe; 13 grandchildren; one brother, Gary (Ruth) Furman of Princeton, MN; three sisters, Jane Baldus of Jewell, Gretchen (Dick) Zickefoose of Colorado Springs, CO and Sarah (Irv) Egeland of Ankeny. Many nieces, nephews cousins and other family members are also left to cherish the memory of this very special person. She is preceded in death by her husband, William; her parents; her brother, Jimmie Dean Furman; and one very speical aunt, Esther Curran.