Mabel Eliza Hansen

Mabel Eliza Trofholz was born January 21, 1922 in Richland, Nebraska to Fred and Nellie (Morgan) Trofholz. Mabel grew up on the family farm near Richland, and attended country school through the eighth grade. Mabel did her share of the chores but was also the most spoiled being the youngest of 12. Mabel married Morris R. Gerrard, and the couple was blessed with two daughters: Nancy and Kathy. Morris died in 1948 at 27 years of age. Mabel later married Roy A. Hansen and they were blessed with a son, Larry. The family settled in Waterloo, Nebraska, but Roy died in 1971 at 50 years old. Mabel was a wonderful homemaker for the children as they grew up, but after Roy’s death, she began working as a cook at the Waterloo Schools. She received a certificate for serving over 40,000 meals! She loved listening to and dancing to polka music, enjoyed playing BINGO, and was active with the Red Hat Ladies. She had strong hands for her size, and she used them to can tomatoes, tomato soup, pickles and peaches. Mabel was a bit of a worrier, and always liked to be clean and neat, and not have her hair wind-blown. Most of all, Mabel was a caring, nurturing mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Nancy, Kathy, and Larry remember how they grew up around the kitchen table, and how Mabel always had homemade bread and cinnamon rolls for them after school. She loved playing cards with them, and they would play Rummy to decide who was to do the dishes that night. When Kathy moved to Watertown, South Dakota, she and Mabel would write letters to each other every week. This went on for at least 25 years. For Mabel, everything centered on her family. She adored the grandkids, and then her great grandkids, and always shared a half stick of gum with them. Christmas eve was a special night, with Mabel making her special chili with spaghetti in it, and oyster stew, and staying up all hours afterwards to still wrap presents for Christmas morning. Her family will remember her as a gentle, sweet and caring woman who was never mean, and had kind, pretty blue eyes. Mabel passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Nye Legacy facility in Fremont, Nebraska at the age of 91 years, one month, and 13 days. She is preceded in death by her parents, 11 brother and sisters, and husbands Morris Gerrard and Roy Hansen. Mabel is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law: Nancy &Larry Bohlen of Fremont, and Kathy &John Graf of Yankton, SD, son Larry of Waterloo, NE, 8 grandchildren: Bill, Julie, Dave, Jodi, Tim, Cortney, Ashley, and Kylee, 15 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Mabel E. Hansen, age 91, of Fremont, formerly of Waterloo, NE, died 3/3/13. Survived by daughters Nancy (Larry) Bohlen of Fremont, Kathy (John) Graf of Yankton, SD, son Larry of Waterloo, NE, 8 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, niece and nephew Jan, Dick and Phil. Funeral service 2 PM Thursday (3/7/13) at the funeral home. Interment Prospect Hill Cemetery, Elkhorn. Visitation Wednesday, Noon to 8 PM with the family receiving friends from 6-8 PM at the funeral home. Memorials to the Waterloo Rescue Squad, Odyssey Hospice, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Mabel Eliza Hansen

January 21, 1922 - March 3, 2013