Emma Hanson (nee Norlund)

Obituary

Emma Victoria was born to Agnes and Swan Norlund in Pratt Township north of Rainy River, Ontario on May 24, 1918. She grew up enjoying Swedish traditions, love for church and country and had a strong work ethic. She faced many challenges but was always resilient. In almost one hundred years of living, Emma married twice, gave life to four children, gained grandchildren, lost loved ones, saw the world change with numerous inventions, worked hard and became a social voice for the needs of others.

Emma was predeceased by her parents and husband Henning Nelson, her daughter Agnes, son Lenart, her siblings and their spouses as follows: Elsa (Harold) Hanson, Carl Norlund, Verner (Dorothy) Norlund, Elmer (Theresa) Norlund and Mary (Ralph) Fugate. She is also predeceased by nephew Neil Fugate and niece Maureen Williams.

Emma was predeceased by her second husband Albert Hanson, his siblings and spouses as follows: Hjalrnar Hanson, Eleanor Bertrand, Gertrude (Henry) Burns, Harold (Rose) Hanson, Ellen (George) Stamler and nephews Robert Stamler and Dr. Herbert Hanson.

Leaving to mourn her are her son Lenart’s daughters, Shelly and husband Ray Appleton of Squamish, BC and great-grandson Christopher; Jodi and husband William Burkinshaw of Kelowna, BC and great-grandsons Cody and Brandon Winslade; her daughter Sylvia and husband Sid Barkman of Steinbach and grandson Sidney and wife Heather Barkman; her son Leland and wife Stephanie Nelson of Woodstock, ON and granddaughters Andrea and husband Paul Conlon and great-grandsons Aiden, Ryan and Brendan; Erika and husband Alex Dlugokecki and great-grandchildren Gillian, Henry and Cassidy.

Emma grew up in the Berglund area where she worked as a store clerk until she married Henning Nelson in 1941 and started her family. She loved family gatherings, picnics, dancing, crafts and music. In 1955, she moved to Atikokan where she began to be active in community and church projects. Her service to the church continued at Salem Lutheran after she married Albert Hanson and moved to Sprague in 1962.

Emma also enjoyed membership in the Ladies Aid. In the early 1970’s, the Sprague Chamber of Commerce asked her to pursue programming and grant funding for seniors. She embraced the opportunity and helped develop seniors’ recreational programs and the Evergreen Seniors Club. She served on the boards of the Manitoba Society of Seniors and the Eastman Seniors Council, helped to organize the local Community Resource Council and meal programs as well as being an organizer for the MSOS 55 Plus Games. Advocating for the creation of a widow’s pension was noted as one of her major achievements. In 2002, she was presented the Council on Aging Recognition Award by the Minister Responsible for Seniors for her numerous contributions.

After a torrential rainstorm that damaged the family home in Sprague, Emma and Albert moved to Steinbach. After Albert was admitted to a personal care home, Emma lived independently until she was 95 years old. Her love for sewing remained her favourite activity until she was hospitalized in 2013 and then moved to a personal care home in 2014.

Emma lived the last years of her life at Bethesda Place in Steinbach and Niverville Heritage Life Personal Care Home. Staff affectionally nicknamed her ‘Queen Victoria’ in recognition of her birth on Victoria Day so many years ago. She shall remain the queen of our family forever!

The funeral service will be held Monday, February 19, 2018, at 2:00 p.m., at the Salem Lutheran Church, Wampum, MB., with interment at the Sprague Cemetery, Sprague, MB. A reception will follow at 3:00 p.m., at the Sprague Evergreen Seniors’ Club, Sprague, MB.

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