Phyllis E. Hanson

Phyllis Elaine (Berge) Hanson, 88, died Monday evening, Sept. 5, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, surrounded by her daughter Lyn and son Matthew.

Phyllis was born March 2, 1928 in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the daughter of Ernest and Laura (Brodale) Berge of Humboldt County. She graduated from Bode High School and received her degree from Iowa State Teachers' College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in Cedar Falls. She later earned her master's degree at Drake University as a reading specialist.

Phyllis taught reading to hundreds of Des Moines pupils, at Nash, Grant, Brooks, Findley and Wallace elementary schools. Nothing gave her more satisfaction than to hear a student read out loud, for the first time, from a book like "Green Eggs and Ham" and "One Fish Two Fish." (Fittingly, Phyllis had the same birthday as Dr. Seuss.)

On August 4, 1956, Phyllis married James H. Hanson, who preceded her in death in 2014.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Lyn (Jay) Jerde of Madison, Wisconsin; Daniel (M. Lynn) Hanson of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and Dr. Matthew (Dianne) Hanson of Wyckoff, New Jersey; three grandchildren, Timothy, Kathryn and Christopher James "CJ" Hanson of Wyckoff; three step-granddaughters, Lesleigh, Jaclyn and Jennifer Rusnak of Canada; a sister, Phelva (James) Smith of Oak Lawn, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Anna Berge of Aurelia, Iowa; five nieces, two nephews, seven great-nephews, four great-nieces and a host of children who, although not related to Phyllis by lineage or marriage, considered her their surrogate mother or grandmother..

In addition to her beloved Jim, she was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Dr. Richard Berge, and her nephew, Eric Berge.

Services will be held at a later date at St. John's Lutheran Church, where Phyllis was an active participant in Bible study, the Eagles and numerous other ministries.

The family suggests memorial contributions be donated to St. John's Lutheran Church or Taylor House Hospice.

The family would like to thank the kind, respectful workers and neighbors at Luther Park, where Phyllis lived first in the Rose Glen Apartments and later in The Gardens assisted living. Thanks, also, to the gentle, caring people of Taylor House, who made her last days on Earth comfortable and dignified.

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Dr. Seuss

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