Irene Wunderlich Hanson

It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Irene W. Hanson, who left us to be with the Lord on December 24, 2021. The daughter of Adolph and Helen Wunderlich, Irene was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1924.

She attended Temple University for her BA and MA in Education becoming an elementary school teacher in Philadelphia in 1946. Before that, she worked several jobs and was a war worker during WWII. She was teaching when she met her husband, Reverend Arthur S. Hanson, Chaplain USN and married him in 1948. She was married to Arthur for 68 years as he pastored seven churches in Blaine, Wa, Pottstown, Pa, St. Paul, Mn, Hampstead, Md, Towson, Md and Lutheran Hospital, Baltimore.

It was during their time in St. Paul, Mn that she decided to study for a doctorate in Education at the University of Minnesota. She graduated in 1965 and started a career in teaching college at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. When her husband was called to a church in Towson, Md she took a job at Towson State University in 1968. She continued her teaching and certifying elementary school teachers all over Maryland and became a Full Professor. She also advised and studied school systems in Germany, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji. Her specialty was the Gifted and Talented programs which she initiated. She was also on the IQ board for testing. She retired in 1997.

After retirement, she moved to Williamsburg, Va to enjoy her passion, travel. She and Arthur took multiple trips to Europe, more than a dozen Elderhostel trips and regular trips to Florida in the winter. They also regularly visited Ocean City, NJ, the site of their honeymoon. She volunteered at Jamestown Settlement and William and Mary as well as supported her churches St. Stephens, King of Glory and now Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Norge, Va. She always sang in the choirs and played piano and organ at her husband’s churches. She enrolled in many of the senior learning programs at William and Mary.

She was a Girl Scout member and leader. She and Arthur enjoyed doing multiple crossword puzzles and she was a voracious reader and lover of Bible study and C.S. Lewis. She also was a member since 2000 of Norwegians Worldwide-Williamsburg, now Sons of Norway Chapter.

Irene is preceded in death by her parents, Adolph and Helen Wunderlich, her husband of 68 years Pastor Arthur Hanson, daughter Elizabeth Hanson, and sister Elaine Smith. She is survived by her son Luther and his wife Carol, as well as many nieces and nephews in Arkansas, Minnesota and New Jersey.

Due to the inclement weather, the services have been postponed until the spring 2022.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 7479 Richmond Rd., Williamsburg, Va 23188.