Memorial
Charlene “Char” Mae Bender Hansen, of Cedar Rapids, died October 2, 2015 at St. Luke’s Hospital. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4 to 7 PM at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Services: 10 AM on Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Burial: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Surviving are her husband, Russell Allen; daughter, Susan Lynn White (David) of Shell Rock; and son, Brad Allen Hansen and significant other Cindy Andrews of Shellsburg; seven grandchildren: Brian Vaske (Jenni) of Epworth, Sheena Abbott (Brad) of Burlington, Ryan Henrichs (Sara) of Allison, Tori Goehring (Cody) of Eldon, Becca Henrichs of Shell Rock, Shannon French (Alan) and Stacy Carter (Craig) all of Hernando, MS. Also 12 great grandchildren – Brandon, Drew and Kaitlyn Vaske, Sawyer and Adelyn Goehring, Keegan French, Aubrie, Haley and Andy Carter, Lillian Abbott, and Warren and Russell Henrichs. Also surviving are sisters: Joann Schweitzer of Belle Vista, AR; Sarah Breidert of Cedar Rapids; and Brother Robert Bender of Ottumwa. She was preceded in death by her father Robert Bender, in 1980, her mother Esther Edna Bender in 2007, Sister Connie Frost in 2010 and brother Gerald “Jerry” Bender in 2013.
Charlene was born the daughter of Robert and Esther Edna Seeck Bender on January 30, 1932 in the family home in Keystone, Iowa. The family moved to Cedar Rapids in 1942 where she attended Buchanan grade school and McKinley High graduating in June 1950. She married Russell Allen Hansen in Cedar Rapids on January 20, 1951. She retired from Defense Logistics Agency (DCASMA) in April 1992 after 30 years of Government Service beginning in Alaska. Charlene was a member of the Genealogical Society of Linn Co. Iowa since 1972. She served in various offices and on many committees for the Genealogical Society, and wrote and had printed four family history books. Daughter Sue said she was addicted to genealogy, but husband Russ said it was a clean addiction. Russ and Char were members of the East Central Federation of Square and round Dance Clubs and enjoyed attending 23 years of the National Square Dance Conventions. Charlene learned to knit at age 10 and has been sewing since age 12. In 2002 when granddaughter Sheena had cancer, Char began sewing chemo caps for cancer patients and to date has donated 1358 caps to this cause. She enjoyed spending time with her family and will be forever remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
Charlene has requested that no flowers be sent, but instead donations be sent to the following: Camp Courageous of Iowa, 12007 -190th Street, Monticello, Iowa 52310 and to the National Parkinson’s Disease Foundation.