Aldona Serena Hansel, 90, a long time Lena resident passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, with her family by her side, while her favorite song, “The Blue Skirt Waltz” was playing in the background. Aldona was so special that she had two birthdays – Aug. 16, 1931 (or Aug. 15, 1931). It’s a long story — in the Chicago home of her parents, Albert and Marie (Posanka) Klivickis. She was the oldest of four children and was extremely proud of being 100% Lithuanian.
At a young age, her family moved to Coleman. She excelled academically in school and was a 1949 graduate of Coleman High School. She always looked forward to attending the annual Coleman High School class reunions. Aldona was employed briefly after high school as a telephone operator in Green Bay. Thereafter, she worked as an upstairs maid for a prominent Green Bay family.
That didn’t last long because she was quickly swept off her feet by a young suitor named Leonard Hansel, whom she met at a local dance. They soon married on Sept. 1, 1951 in Coleman and settled on the family farm in Lena where they operated a small dairy farm.
Aldona enjoyed many hobbies and interests including sewing, knitting (her afghans, scarfs, slippers and dishrags were desired by many and will be greatly missed), crafting, board games, many word games (which she almost always won), canning, and baking. She always had a puzzle being worked on. As one of the founders of the Lena Library and member of several book clubs, she was a passionate reader who justified her book purchases by claiming she needed these books as much as a smoker needed cigarettes.
In addition to books, Aldona collected bird statues, hen on nest candy dishes, and souvenir trivets from her travels with Leonard. She loved birds, flowers, and the color purple. She belonged to the local homemakers club in which she held many leadership positions including state cultural arts committee chairperson at the national level.
Aldona had a playfully competitive side to her which she nourished as a member of the local bowling league and several card clubs (in which she particularly enjoyed the game of Smear), and by “pushing buttons” at casinos. Most recently she kept active with scratch-off lottery tickets and adult coloring books. She was never without a Tootsie Pop (but not the chocolate ones).
She and Leonard loved to be with family, go for car rides, and go out to eat. They loved to travel and were so proud to have visited all 50 states and several foreign countries, with their final trip together being a cruise through the Panama Canal in 2015. Aldona enjoyed attending the school and sporting events of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was extremely proud of each and every one of them. Once she was married, Aldona focused on her role as a homemaker and devoted herself to raising her children and doing farm chores. She was a dedicated volunteer and took her positions as a school chaperone, bloodmobile assistant, librarian, and election volunteer very seriously.
Her family was extremely blessed to be raised by such a wonderful and feisty woman with a unique sense of humor. She shared in all of our joys, challenges and sorrows. She loved family gatherings and enjoyed being the life of the party. Most of all, she truly loved all her children and always wanted the best for her family. She left us with incredible, priceless memories and a few choice sayings: “It’s in my back pocket.” “I have eyes in the back of my head.” “Go home with the one you went with.” “Oh, Fudgsicles.”
Aldona finally hit the big jackpot as she is now in heaven with her savior Jesus, the rest of her family and friends who have gone before her, and she is once again dancing the Blue Skirt Waltz with her husband Leonard.
She will be dearly missed by her six children: Michael and Jeanne Hansel, Catherine and Rick Dugan, Teresa and the late John Holowich, Steve and Sandy Hansel, Barbara McClain and Tom Marcusen, and Debra and Steve Westenberg. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Amanda and Cliff, Michele, Marcella and Dan, Melanie and Darin, John L., Joseph and Erin, Sarah and Travis, Elizabeth and Jacob, T.R., Shauna and Matt, Kelsey and Scott, Zachary and Janki, and Alayna.
She was further blessed with her great-grandchildren: Amelia, Benjamin, Cecilia, Sonya, Issac, Evelyn, Leila, Lark, Teal, Ani, Etta, Addy, Nova, Reid, and Sage Serena, and one great-great-grandchild Treshaun. She is further survived by her sister-in-law Vallee Hansel, special childhood friend Millie Thielke, and many other cousins, nieces, nephews, family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Leonard, son-in-law John Holowich, grandson Daniel Hansel, siblings Jean, Albert and George, sister-in-law LaVerne and her husband Martin, and brother-in-law Leroy.
The family will greet relatives and friends on Saturday, Feb. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rhodes-Charapata Funeral Home, 438 W. Main St., Lena, Wisconsin. A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Kevin Kuhn officiating. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rhodescharapata.com.
The family would like to thank Joanie Hubacher and the caring staff at Care Partners in Oconto. Thank you for always providing our mom with your loving care and support over the past three years. We appreciate that you gave of your hearts to be sure that her needs were always met with love and laughter. You were truly like family to us.
Thank you to all of the Bellin Health Care providers for your compassionate care over the years, and to Unity Hospice for making Mom’s final days more comfortable. A special heartfelt thank you to Pastor Kevin Kuhn of Riverview Alliance Church for your visits, prayers, and spiritual guidance, which meant so much to Mom and her family.
We loved Mom tremendously and we are going to miss her so much, but we are so grateful for all of the good times and wonderful memories we shared. She lived a full and beautiful life.
Aldona S. Hansel
