Charlene Ann Hansen, 91, of Horton, KS passed away on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at Maple Heights in Hiawatha, KS. She was born on May 24, 1933 on a farm near Bern, KS to George and Marie Stoldt Vogel.

She moved to Horton in 1946 and graduated as valedictorian of her class in 1951. She married Eldon Hansen of Willis on October 11, 1953. One son, Gary Wayne, was born to this union.

She and her husband ran Hansen’s Hardware and TV in Horton for over 55 years.

She was a member of the Horton United Methodist Church. She directed the children’s choir, for 35 years, sung in the Chancel choir for over 70 years. She was the church’s Administrative Council Chairman several times, taught Sunday school, and was a member of the KS East Conference Nominating Committee. She was a certified Lay Speaker of the Methodist Church and enjoyed preaching at other churches and giving devotions for other groups, when asked. She was a member of the Evelyn Mercer Circle for over 35 years, missing only two meetings in all of that time.

She, also, sang with a Vocal group, the Horton Harmonettes, that toured the state promoting Horton, as well as participating in the Kiwanis shows over the years.

She was a Certified Volunteer of America with the Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority, a philanthropic organization dedicated to raising money for St. Jude’s Children’s research Hospital in Memphis, TN, Heartspring in Wichita, Easter Seals and other local projects. She has been a member of the Beta Theta Chapter in Horton for over 70 years. She held all of the local and district offices many times, and was Kansas State President of the organization in 1990-1991 when she chaired the state convention of over 900 women. She was selected as Outstanding Sister of the district twice. She received the ESA Foundation State Counselors Award of Excellence in 1984 at the International Convention. She has won the Sweepstakes Award at the state convention and 2nd on her Hardanger embroidery and Grand Champion on her knitting.

She was a Life Member of the Horton Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of the Pride Committees, and served on the Appeals Zoning board for the City of Horton.

She was a member of the drama group that did the skits at the Horton Birthday Celebration. She did a lot of volunteering with her music keyboard in the community, especially at the Tri-Co. Manor. She has taught music keyboard classes and beginning Word classes in AZ when she and her husband used to go there for the winter.

She was Secretary of the Board of directors of the Horton Lakeview Country Club for more than 10 years. She was a past member of the Willis All Star 4-H Club where she was a sewing leader for several years. She shared her talent as a seamstress by teaching sewing classes and fitting people when they had problems. She, also, belonged to the Knitting Group at the Hiawatha Library where she taught several people how to knit. One of her passions was knitting prayer shawls, and stocking caps for the homeless, knitting over 890 caps starting in 2006.

She was inducted into the Horton High School Alumni Hall of Fame in May of 2023.

Her husband, Eldon, passed away on August 9, 2020 and her sister, Joann, passed away on January 24, 2022.

She is survived by her son, Dr. Gary Hansen, his wife, Dana, and grandsons Andrew, Kristopher, and Jackson, one great granddaughter, Nora Jo and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at the Horton United Methodist Church, Friday, January 3, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. Visitation will be conducted one hour prior to the service. Burial following at the Horton Cemetery in Horton, KS.

Memorials may be made to the Horton United Methodist Church.