- Date Of Birth: January 15, 1912
- Date Of Death: April 4, 2007
- State: Illinois
Marjorie H. Hansen, 95, of Rockford, formerly of Freeport, died Wednesday, April 4, 2007, at River Bluff Nursing Home in Rockford.Born Jan. 15, 1912, in Freeport, she was the daughter of Arthur E. and Helen (Ritzman) Wheeland. Marjorie married Wilbur H. Hansen on Oct. 4, 1951, in Freeport. He preceded her in death on Aug. 25, 2004.
She was a lifelong resident of Freeport until retiring to Rockford with her husband in 2001. Marjorie resided at River Bluff Nursing Home since July 2006 after suffering a fall in her home.
She was a member of the first graduating class, 1929, of the newly constructed Freeport Senior High School and graduated from University of Illinois in 1933 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She was a school teacher in the rural system and Freeport public schools, retiring in 1972.Marjorie began volunteering at Highland College in the ESL, English as Second Language, program, joining the faculty for 12 years until retiring again in 1994 at age 82.After marriage to Wilbur, she helped him develop a successful resort called Hansen’s Camp on Bowstring Lake in Minnesota, which they owned and operated together until selling the business in 1972. The resort continues to do business under the name Geiger’s Trails End.
She was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church in Freeport, where she was active in Rebecca Circle and many other groups within the congregation.
Since moving to Rockford in 2001, Spring Creek United Church of Christ has been her church family.Her memberships also included: 50-year life member of Eastern Star, White Shrine and Scottish Rite Women’s Club; life member of Stephenson County Retired Teachers Association, University of Illinois Alumni Association and Stephenson County Historical Society; member of the Elder William Brewster Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, and volunteer at Oakdale Preserve, Freeport Area Church Cooperative, and many other community organizations.
She was a staunch advocate for environmental conservation and recycling, and enjoyed traveling the country, canoeing the Minnesota Boundary Waters, bird watching, gardening and participating in Masonic and White Shrine functions with her beloved husband Wilbur.
Surviving are her daughter, Debra (Mrs. Duane) Phillips, grandson Devin, and granddaughter Rachel, all of Rockford; one nephew, Patrick Marlin of Norris City; and one niece, Amy Whittington of Aurora.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; her sister, Eleanor Marlin; and one nephew, Jon Michael Marlin.
