Sue Ann Hansen, age 76, of Ames, Iowa, died Monday, September 15, 2014, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 19, 2014, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada, Iowa, with Pastor Myron Herzberg officiating.  Visitation will be held at the church on Thursday from 5-7 p.m.

Sue was born April 2, 1938, in Nevada, Iowa, to Alfred and Ferne (Highland) Peterson.  She was baptized and confirmed into the Memorial Lutheran Church.  Sue graduated from Nevada High School in 1956, and the Iowa Teacher’s College in 1958.  She taught elementary school in Belle Plaine and Nevada.  While raising her family, Sue was a substitute teacher, a school librarian, and worked at Iowa Electric.  On February 25, 1984, she married Rodney Hansen and moved to Winthrop, MN, where she helped Rodney on their farm.  They moved back to Iowa in 1991, and settled in Ames.  Sue worked for the National Farmers Organization until retiring.

She was a member of Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada.  She was also a member of Eastern Star, Sons of Norway, a past member of the Nevada Woman’s Club, Nevada Jaycee-Ettes, and many church organizations.

Sue never met a stranger.  She had many friends and loved life and the people around her.  She was a caregiver to many and never complained.  Even after her own health issues she continued to have a great attitude, a passion for life and her beautiful smile.  Sue loved to entertain, loved to bake, and loved holidays and birthday parties.  She made every celebration a special one.  Sue also enjoyed taking pictures.  Her greatest love was her grandchildren.  She loved spending time with them and enjoyed playing games.  Sue enjoyed summer vacations at Ten Mile Lake in northern Minnesota and most recently spending the winters with friends in Mesa, AZ.

She is survived by her son, Keith Pierce of Colo; her daughter and son-in-law, Kristi and Mark Coughenour of Maxwell; her grandchildren, T.J. (Loridee) Coughenour, Amanda (Trevor) Sharp, and Michelle Pierce; a step-daughter, Melissa (Jason) Hansen of Minneapolis, MN; a step-son, Mark (Sheila) Hansen of Urbandale; grandchildren, Derek Zollner, Miranda Evans, Aaron Koethe, and Allysa Koethe; and great-grandson, Sig Evans.  Sue is also survived by her aunt, Wilma Haukom of Ft. Atkinson, WI; a nephew, Brian (Amy) Peterson of Pensacola, FL; a niece, Marci (Sam) Devick of Laurel; a brother-in-law, Larry (Rhonda) Hansen of Roland; the NHS Class of 1956; as well as many cousins, wonderful neighbors, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Max Peterson in 1988; and her husband, Rodney, on January 14, 2014.

Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Sue and her family.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Memorial Lutheran Church or to the American Diabetes Association.