Date of Birth:
Wednesday, June 2, 1937
Date of Death:
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Age:
87 years old

Margaret Ann Hansen

Margaret Ann Hansen, 87, of Rochester, MN, went to her great reward on March 18, 2025.  Margaret was living at Madonna Towers Benedictine Living at the time of her death, where she was wonderfully cared for in Assisted Living and Memory Care during her final years.

Margaret was born on June 2, 1937 and grew up on a farm on the bluffs above the Mississippi River near Lake City, Minnesota. She loved to tell her children and grandchildren stories of the dogs, cats, horses and farm animals she grew up with, telling tales of herding cattle in the summers on a dapple grey horse with a book in her pocket to read while they grazed. During her early grade school years, Margaret attended a small rural Country School, one of the last of its kind. She attended Lake City High School, where she met the love of her life, John Hansen. Margaret graduated from high school in 1955 and immediately started her career of many years working at the Mayo Clinic. Margaret and John were married in 1959 and had two children, Robert and Susan. Margaret and John bought their first home in 1963 but John’s time there was short.  In 1969, John died in a military plane crash during his service in the Navy Air Force Reserves.  Margaret was strong and resourceful, though, and sheraised her children and set them off into the world with a good foundation. After her children were older, Margaret continued to work at the Mayo Clinic until her retirement. She meticulously cared for and lived in the home she and John bought until 2018, when she moved to Madonna Towers.

Margaret was always a quick-witted, sharply intelligent person who was known for her ability to problem-solve and manage many tasks with great efficiency.  She was enormously proud of her long association with the Mayo Clinic. She took quiet joy in owning her home and was perhaps happiest sitting on her deck in the very early mornings, drinking coffee and watching the sun rise.  She was physically active and loved long walks and thoroughly enjoyed taking care of her lawn and gardens. She had many dogs and cats over her life and loved them dearly. It was devastating when her sharp wit and energy were slowed and eventually stopped by likely Alzheimer’s disease.  But the confusion and delusions of this cruel disease were softened in her final weeks when even Alzheimer’s could not mask what was most important to her and she spoke of seeing those who most mattered to her. Her last words with her children were of love and gratitude.

Margaret is survived by her two children, Robert and Susan, and their families, including three grandchildren, Travis (Karinne), Nick, and Sarah (Alex), and one great-grandchild, Sasha; her two sisters, Marcile Esboldt and Mary Bowers; one niece and four nephews and their families. She is preceded in death by her husband John; her parents, Martin and Florence Ahlers; her brother Kenny Ahlers; and very recently, her brother-in-law, Dick Esboldt.

Margaret loved bright colors, particularly yellow and red. Guests at her final earth-bound event are asked to wear something colorful in her honor should they so choose. The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 24, 2025 in the Madonna Towers Chapel.  Visitation and refreshments will be one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Lake City. Memorials are preferred to Rochester Madonna Towers Benedictine Living or Mayo Clinic Hospice.