Carolyn Hansen

Carolyn (Rowan) Hansen was born May 24, 1966, in Clarinda, IA to Marvin and Merilyn (Russell) Rowan. She was united in marriage to Mark Hansen on August 25, 1990 at the United Presbyterian Church, College Springs, IA. They enjoyed nearly 32 years of marriage together.

Carolyn graduated from South Page Community High School in College Springs in 1984. Following high school she attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, where she graduated in 1988 with a biology degree before obtaining a masters in physical therapy from the University of Iowa.

After moving to Omaha in 1993, she began a 29-year-long career at Westside Community Schools where she worked in the Special Education department as a physical therapist. She believed this to be her life’s work and found joy in it daily. Many of her coworkers became her extended family.

The common thread of Carolyn’s life was her rock-solid faith and joyful demeanor. She was a friend to all with a smile that would light up any room and a laugh that would fill it. She enjoyed reading, having an ever-growing list of books to check out from the library, taking road trips with the family–most often to Estes Park, CO–sitting around a campfire in the evening chatting with friends, and tending her garden where she cultivated flowers of many varieties.

She is survived by her husband Mark Hansen, Omaha, NE; children Kyle Hansen (wife Haley), Waterloo, IA, Julia Hansen, Washington, MO, and Sydney Hansen, Minneapolis, MN; parents Marvin and Merilyn (Russell) Rowan, College Springs, IA; brother David Rowan (wife Erin Frazier), Lafayette, CO; many relatives and friends.

Carolyn will be missed by all.

She is survived by her husband, Mark Hansen, Omaha; children, Kyle Hansen (wife Haley), Waterloo, IA, Julia Hansen, Washington, MO, and Sydney Hansen, Minneapolis, MN; parents, Marvin and Merilyn Rowan, College Springs, IA; brother David Rowan (wife Erin Frazier), Lafayette, CO; other relatives and many friends.

Visitation 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 28,  at Westside Community Center, 3534 S 108th St, Omaha, NE.

Memorial service 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 29, at Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, NE.