Wangsness, Carol Eleanor (Hanson) of Anoka, MN, age 83, died on May 13, 2022 from natural causes, while holding the hand of her daughter Annie. She was born on August 1, 1938, on the family farm in Fertile, MN. The family later moved to Stillwater, MN, where Carol graduated from high school. She attended Luther College in Decorah, IA, where she excelled playing the French Horn and graduated with a BA in Education. Carol met her husband Darryl in Decorah, near his hometown of Calmar, and they were married on May 20, 1961. Carol and Darryl settled in Anoka, MN, where they raised four children. While Darryl worked in the Anoka-Hennepin school district, Carol served in a variety of roles including the Phys Ed teacher at Franklin Elementary, a pre-school teacher at Zion Lutheran Church, and for many years as a manager at Dayton's. Carol's use of her Dayton's discount is legendary! Carol had a large circle of friends in a close-knit community. She enjoyed tennis, couple's bridge, gardening, furniture refinishing, antique collecting, and slinging lefse. Above all, Carol loved being a wife, a mother, a friend, and a grandmother. Carol was loving, sensitive, complex, and fiercely independent. She was determined to stay in the family house of 50 years until the end, and she did. Preceded in death by her parents Hector and Anne Hanson, her husband Darryl and son Steve, and her sisters Mavis Anderson and Darlene Jensen Swaim. Survived by her children Erik (Kari), Kent (Molly), and Annie, and sibling David Hanson (Eileen). Grandchildren Hans, Kristen, Nels, Thea, Luke, Adam, Jonah, Cash, and Brooke. Many in-laws, nieces and nephews and friends will miss her dearly. A celebration of life will be held for Carol and Darryl later this year. Mom, you left us much too soon. Thank you for everything and know we will carry you in our hearts forever. In lieu of flowers, memorial preferred to Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka, MN.

Published on May 29, 2022