LeNore Jean Hansen, age 93, of West Des Moines, left us on August 4, 2022. She was born in Audubon, Iowa to John and Iva Crees.

LeNore loved life and her life reflected this devotion. She gave a piece of herself to everyone she met and that piece of herself left a deep impact on anyone lucky enough to know her.

LeNore loved sports and that love continued through her entire life. In her youth she was an athlete, outrunning all the boys and a girls basketball player making the Varsity team in eighth grade. She challenged herself by running, riding bicycles, and exercising to the likes of Jack LaLanne! Her favorite expression was “If you don’t use it you lose it!”

LeNore loved music and had a beautiful voice. She sang at friend’s weddings and in church choirs and to her family daily. Today her family knows the lyrics to all the songs’ of Della Reese and Dinah Washington.

LeNore loved the Iowa Hawkeyes and was an avid fan her entire life. Beginning with train rides to Iowa City from Audubon with her father to watch the Hawks play. Her happy times were cheering at Kinnick Stadium and Carver Hawkeye Arena! She was a member of the University of Iowa Foundation’s Presidents Club, a major donor to the U of I and a season ticket holder for 25 years. Her legacy will continue for many generations as evidenced by the Stew and LeNore Hansen Performance Center at the U of I.

LeNore loved traveling the world with her husband and family. She spent long weekends at Lake Panorama and was a part-time resident for 40 years.

LeNore considered her greatest accomplishment to be her family. She created some of our best memories from drinking coffee around her kitchen table while eating her fabulous cooking to dancing with her music. She was a creator of some of the world’s best pies with a crust that was the envy of any baker.

LeNore was married for 74 years to her high school sweetheart Stew. On one trip with Stew, while sitting in the lobby of a hotel in Chicago two young women walked by and she said to Stew: “Wouldn’t you like to trade me in for those two twenty year olds ?” He replied: “I already have a diamond!! Why would I want to trade it in for that?”

LeNore is survived by her husband, Stewart Hansen; children: Mary (Steve) Madison, Brent (Rosa) Hansen, Julie (John) Phillips; ten grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, son Dennis Hansen, granddaughter , Jennifer Madison and all of her five siblings.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers who have cared dearly for mother at her home and at Walnut Ridge.

A visitation will be held at Iles Funeral Homes Westover Chapel, 6337 Hickman Road, Des Moines, on August 14th from 1 to 3 p.m., with a service to follow at 3 p.m.