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NIAGARA, Wis. -- Anne (Hanna) Wieden Hansen, 88, of Niagara, Wis., went home to be with Jesus on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026, at Maryhill Manor in Niagara.
She was born on Jan. 17, 1938, in Bromberg, Germany (now Bydgoszcz, Poland), to the late Emil and Else Marie (Raese) Wieden.
Anne grew up in Bromberg until her family was forced to flee the advancing Soviet Army in 1945. She and her family were ardent believers in Jesus Christ, who protected the family during the war years. Having escaped before the Iron Curtain came down, Anne and her family then lived in Salzhausen, Germany, until they emigrated to the United States in 1951. She first lived in Visalia, Calif., then Willimantic, Conn., before her family settled in Milwaukee.
Anne spent many happy years in Milwaukee and graduated early from Rufus King High School in 1956. After graduation, Anne worked as a bilingual travel agent in the Milwaukee area until moving to Niagara in 1974, and she was a Niagara resident from that time on. In 1977, she and her husband bought Sikora Sheet Metal, which they owned and operated until 2016.
Anne met her husband, Richard Hansen, through friends, and they married on Feb. 16, 1962; they were married for over 62 years. Anne was a member of Quinnesec United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where she had many dear friends and family.
Anne enjoyed traveling, reading, and gardening. She sang in the choir at Quinnesec United Methodist Church for decades and enjoyed composing poetry. Anne loved being around children, especially her grandchildren; she loved teaching them to sing and to pray in German, her native language. But the thing that was most important to her was her faith in Jesus Christ, which she passed on to her children and grandchildren.
Anne is survived by her son, Karl Hansen of Sault Ste. Marie; daughters Catherine (Greg) Myers of Columbus, Ohio, and Anna Christina (Galen) Ojala of Ramstein, Germany. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Heidi (Chris) Ziarnik, Matthew Hansen, Elizabeth (Tyler) Hostetler, Alexandra (Nicholas) Boardman; Grace (Daniel) Griffin, Joy Ojala, Jacob Ojala, Erik Ojala, Hanna Ojala, Maija Ojala, and Mary Ojala. She has seven great-grandchildren: Louisa, Lukas, and Ruby Schalow; Scott Ziarnik; Aedan and William Hostetler; and Sophia Griffin. She is also survived by her brother, Norbert (Antonia) Wieden of Madison, Wis.; and sisters-in-law Nely Wieden of Laredo, Texas, Ursula Wieden, Sharon Gramprie of South Lake Tahoe, Calif., and Penny Hansen of Las Vegas. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews. Anne's family would also like to thank Cirie LaFreniere for her love, kindness, and friendship over the past 10 years.
In addition to her parents and husband, Anne was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Kristin Joy Hansen; sisters Dorothea Pedersen and Christa McCarthy; brothers Hartmut Wieden and Peter Wieden; sister-in-law Arlene Turrie; and brother-in-law Joseph Hansen.
Visitation will be held from 10 until 11 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Quinnesec United Methodist Church in Quinnesec. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, at the church, with Pastor Ron Bennett officiating. A luncheon will immediately follow the service at the church. Anne's final resting place will be at Wisconsin Memorial Park in Brookfield, Wis., at a later date.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Anne's family online at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.
Memorial contributions can be made in Anne's memory to WRVM Radio Station, The Voice of the Master, at P.O. Box 212, Suring, WI 54174, or to Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800.
The family has chosen Jacobs Funeral Home-Niagara Chapel in Niagara to honor Anne's legacy of life.