Doris "Bonnie" Hansen

Doris "Bonnie" LaVonne Hansen, age 91, of Waukee, Iowa, passed away peacefully on November 29,2024. Born on September 28, 1933, in Audubon, Iowa, she was the youngest child of Wilson S. and Archena “Ena” Shaw Davis.

Bonnie was raised on the family farm near Gray, Iowa, and embraced her roots with pride. A graduate of Gray High School in 1951, she excelled academically as Valedictorian (of her class of six) and athletically as a 1st Team All-County player on her 6-on-6 basketball team. Bonnie pursued her passion for education, earning her teaching certificate from the University of Northern Iowa—then known as Iowa State Teachers College—and later furthering her studies at Drake University.

Bonnie began her teaching career in the Altoona School District, where she formed a lifelong friendship with Arvena "Russ" Summers. She went on to teach at Cornell Elementary in the Saydel School District, where she left an indelible mark on her students. Decades later, it was not uncommon for former students to approach her and proudly declare she had been their favorite teacher.

On Valentine’s Day in 1955, Bonnie married the love of her life, Palmer Hansen, at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa. Together, they built a life full of love, laughter, and adventure in their Saylorville, Iowa, home, where they lived for over 50 years before relocating to Waukee.

Bonnie and Palmer shared a passion for travel, visiting all 50 states and countless National Parks, often in their Winnebago or 5th wheel trailer. They also cherished their years spent in their Las Vegas vacation home, creating cherished memories with family and friends.

Bonnie had a vibrant and social spirit. She was an avid card player, delighting in games of Bridge, UNO, and Skip-Bo. Her competitive streak extended to Wii bowling, where she was a member of multiple championship teams in her retirement community. Bonnie and her sister Mary shared a love for basketball and going to the movies together.

Perhaps one of Bonnie's most endearing traits was her dedication to sending cards for every occasion. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays—if there was a reason to celebrate, Bonnie made sure a card was sent. It became a family joke that when Bonnie stopped sending cards, Hallmark might go out of business.

Bonnie will be remembered for her warm spirit, her unwavering devotion to education, and the boundless love she shared with her family and friends.

She is survived by her children, Sandra Laust, Ted (Marie) Hansen, and Amy (Robert) Taylor; her grandchildren, Amanda (Robert) Anderson, Erica Turner (Michael Wahlert), Hope Taylor, Olivia Taylor, Rachel Taylor, Nick (Keyli) Keifer, Valerie (Mike) Sutton, and Austin (Michaela) Wolfe; and her great-grandchildren, State and Collins Turner, Paisley, Hoyt, Krue, and Brek Sutton, Emerson Wolfe, and Makena Keifer.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Palmer; her parents; son-in-law, Jeffery Laust; grandson, Ben Taylor; and her siblings, John, Pearl, Rose, Erma, Elaine, and Mary Ellen.

A visitation and memorial service will be held on Monday, December 16, beginning at 1 p.m.at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Adel, Iowa. A gathering of family and friends will follow at the home of Ted and Marie Hansen in DeSoto. At a later date, her remains will be interred alongside her husband Palmer at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in loving memory of Doris Hansen (www.bcrf.org), a cause close to her heart.