Lillian Jeanette Stratmann

Lillian Jeanette (Hanson) Stratmann passed away on January 23, 2026 at the age of 68 in Sun City, Arizona due to complications from heart surgery. Lillian was born on October 8, 1957 in Denver, Colorado to parents Carl and Susie (Bales) Hanson. The family moved to Arizona in 1960 due to Lillian needing a dryer climate to combat her allergies.

She graduated from Apollo High School in 1975. While in high school, she was in the drama club performing in plays such as “How to Succeed Without Really Trying", she was a Student Council Officer and a member of the Concert Choir.

Some of Lillian’s most cherished memories include; appearing on the Wallace and Ladmo Show when she was a girl scout, driving from Arizona to Lodi California with her big brother Bobby, being an “extra” in the 1976 movie A Star is Born starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, the yearly tradition of spending Christmas Day with her sister Sharon and her Mom, meeting Drake Hogestyn, the actor who portrayed John Black on Days of Our Lives and traveling with her husband Dr. Richard Stratmann to Ireland, England and Japan before he passed away in 1990.

In 1994, Lillian made the decision to move in with her Mother who was also a widow and they have taken care of each other for the last 32 years. The modern day Golden Girls!

Sports were a huge part of Lillian’s life; she attended numerous Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball games, Phoenix Suns Basketball games and Nascar races over the years.

Lillian recently retired from Well Fargo Bank in September of 2025 after many decades of dedicated service. She cherished the friendships that she made over the years working at the bank.

Lillian had a true love for dogs and volunteered hundreds of hours for both the Arizona Beagle Rescue and Amazing Aussies Lethal White Rescue of Arizona. Her beloved Biscuit was one of those Aussies and she brought Lillian many years of joy (and a lot of dog hair).

Her whole life revolved around her family and friends. She spent many years visiting her Aunts, Uncles and Cousins throughout the United States and attended many Hanson family reunions. She was especially close to her nieces; Holly, Joy and Heather Hanson, nephews; Eric and Paul Cookman and great nephews; Mark, Michael and Matthew Cookman and special friends; Marina Fuller, Tina Ward, Terry Black, Becky Sanchez and Mark Stover to name a few.

Lillian will be greatly missed by all who knew her. May she rest in peace.

She is survived by; her Mother Susie Hanson, her sister Sharon Cookman, her brother Robert (Shelly) Hanson, nephews Eric (Carmen) Cookman, Paul Cookman, nieces Holly Hanson, Joy Hanson, Heather Hanson and great nephews Mark Cookman, Michael (Faith) Cookman and Matthew Cookman, her step-children Robin, Erin, Kevin, Anne and Scott Stratmann as well as her extended family of Aunts, Uncles and numerous cousins.

Funeral services will be held on February 3, 2026 at 1:00pm at West Resthaven Funeral Home located at 6450 W Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to https://www.amazingaussies.org/donations/