Mary Jo Hansell
September 07, 2015
Mary Jo Hansell, 63, passed away September 7, 2015. Services will be held at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway, 3601 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines, IA with visitation on Monday, September 14 from 4 to 7 p.m. and the service on Tuesday, September 15 at 4:00 p.m.
Mary Jo was born December 19, 1951 to Helen (Sawin) and Leo Broerman. She graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1970, Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in 1973, The University of St. Francis – Joliet, IL in 1979, and earned her Master’s degree from the University of Iowa in 1987. In 1986 she married Marion Ivan Hansell.
Mary Jo LOVED spending time with family and friends, traveling and shopping. She spent her 43 year career at UnityPoint where she touched countless lives as a nurse and educator. Mary Jo instilled happiness in others with her quick smile and infectious laugh. She was a shining example of how we should treat each other with her positive attitude and outgoing personality.
She will be greatly missed by her husband, Marion “Dude” Hansell of Des Moines; daughter, Amanda Jo (Mihalovich) Downs; son-in-law, Brian Downs; grandson, Hayden Downs; all of Urbandale; her mother, Helen Jo Broerman of Oskaloosa; sisters, Patty (Jeff) Turner of Des Moines, Becky Broerman of Des Moines; and nephew, Todd Hansell. Mary Jo was preceded in death by her father, Leo Broerman; and parents-in-law, Arlene and Ivan Hansell.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Creutzfeldt Jakob’s Disease research www.cjdfoundation.org. Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.
Sally Fisher
09/09/2015
Much energy and serenity I send to you in your grieving. I did not know your Mary Jo but all indications is that she was a wonderful person.
Brandi O'Dell
09/09/2015
I had the privilege of meeting Mary Jo 14 years ago when I attended entry education. Her smile lit up the room and her welcoming attitude let me know I had made the right choice in changing careers. Even now, 14 yrs later, she always made time to say hi when we would cross paths. She will be missed. I feel very blessed to have met such a shining star.
Jim Douglas
09/09/2015
Always a smile, never a harsh word. So sorry for your loss.
Paula Bruno
09/09/2015
Dear Marion and Amanda,
I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful wife,mother and grandmother.
I have dozens and dozens of beautiful pictures of Mary Jo from our trip in March to Australia and
New Zealand. I know how she
loved the pictures and I would love to share them with you, so please let me know how I can send them to you. I know she had a wonderful time. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this most difficult loss.
Paula and Phil Bruno
Andrea Fetters
09/09/2015
Amanda,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
"I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, "There, she is gone.""Gone where?"Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side, and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the moment when someone at my side says, "There, she is gone!" there are other eyes watching her coming, and there are other voices ready to shout, "Here she comes!
Angie Fagervik-Chia
09/09/2015
I feel blessed to have known Mary Jo and to have worked with her for many years. Her one-of-a-kind laugh and positive outlook on life were infectious. She was a bright light for many people and will be greatly missed. My deepest sympathy to her family.
Louise Clifton
09/09/2015
Dude and Amanda- Mary Jo was energetic,kind,loving Person. I was blessed to have met her . My prayers are with the family
Janna Rensch
09/09/2015
Dude and Amanda - Mary Jo was so full of life, kind, caring, loving and just an all around amazing individual that I have had the great honor to know and call a friend. People knew when Mary Jo walked into the room because of her energy :) She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her!
Peggy Black
09/09/2015
Mary Jo was one of the most positive, energetic women I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Such an amazing person, she will be greatly missed. My deepest sympathy to her family.
Kari Buckalew & Dennis Kyabaggu
09/08/2015
Dude - Mary Jo enriched the lives of others. What a blessing to have known her. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.