Jane Ethel Kurkowski
<p>Jane Hanson was the 6th of 10 children born on the family farm to Edith (Hanson) and Art Hanson in Pine City, MN. At the age of 15, Jane went to Minneapolis to find a job during World War II and found a position in a factory, as those jobs were plentiful at that time, but she would often have to switch jobs when employers would find out she was only 15! She married Al Kurkowski on September 9, 1947, and the couple had 3 children—2 daughters and 1 son. They tried their hand at farming near Pine City until Al’s allergies to the animals prompted them to move in a different direction. They were offered a chance to buy a tavern in Boyd, which Jane helped run for several years until they moved to their present house in Boyd where she lived for 70 years. She worked at the Boyd post office, eventually becoming the postmaster, a role she always said she really enjoyed. </p><p>Jane always had a love of music, especially country western as a child, and taught herself to play her brother’s guitar and father’s violin in secret—needless to say they were not happy with her when they caught her with their instruments. She could play almost any instrument by ear but stuck with guitar or accordion for the most part. As a young teenager, Jane played in a local Pine City band with her uncle and cousins. She also played and sang with her siblings at home. In her later years she played and sang with her good friend, Helen, and in and around Boyd at small events. Flowers and gardening were also Jane’s passion and she kept up with her own garden and numerous flower beds through the 2022 season. She loved to read, can produce, and taught herself to sew clothing for both her and her daughters. She was active in the Boyd American Legion Auxiliary and St. James Parish Church activities. </p><p>On Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the age of 94, Jane passed away at the Olivia Hospital. She is preceded in death by her husband, Al; parents, Art and Edith Hanson, and 8 siblings. </p><p>Jane is survived by her 3 children, Sharon (Gene) Kockelman of Clarkfield, Marilyn (Ron) Sammons of Atwater, MN, and Greg Kurkowski of Wyoming, MN; 5 grandchildren, Jeff (Selena) Kockelman, Jade Wadsworth, Tristen (Angie) Wadsworth, Jesse (Carrie) Wadsworth, and Misty (Kyle) Maher; 9 great-grandchildren, Ashley, Madison, Ben, Blake, Matthew, Dallas, Lili, Freddy, and Sonny; great-great-grandson, Greyson; 4 step-grandchildren and 8 step-great-grandchildren; sister, Betty Rogers, and many nieces and nephews. </p><p>Private family services will be held. </p>Obituary
Jane Hanson was the 6th of 10 children born on the family farm to Edith (Hanson) and Art Hanson in Pine City, MN. At the age of 15, Jane went to Minneapolis to find a job during World War II and found a position in a factory, as those jobs were plentiful at that time, but she would often have to switch jobs when employers would find out she was only 15! She married Al Kurkowski on September 9, 1947, and the couple had 3 children—2 daughters and 1 son. They tried their hand at farming near Pine City until Al’s allergies to the animals prompted them to move in a different direction. They were offered a chance to buy a tavern in Boyd, which Jane helped run for several years until they moved to their present house in Boyd where she lived for 70 years. She worked at the Boyd post office, eventually becoming the postmaster, a role she always said she really enjoyed.
Jane always had a love of music, especially country western as a child, and taught herself to play her brother’s guitar and father’s violin in secret—needless to say they were not happy with her when they caught her with their instruments. She could play almost any instrument by ear but stuck with guitar or accordion for the most part. As a young teenager, Jane played in a local Pine City band with her uncle and cousins. She also played and sang with her siblings at home. In her later years she played and sang with her good friend, Helen, and in and around Boyd at small events. Flowers and gardening were also Jane’s passion and she kept up with her own garden and numerous flower beds through the 2022 season. She loved to read, can produce, and taught herself to sew clothing for both her and her daughters. She was active in the Boyd American Legion Auxiliary and St. James Parish Church activities.
On Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the age of 94, Jane passed away at the Olivia Hospital. She is preceded in death by her husband, Al; parents, Art and Edith Hanson, and 8 siblings.
Jane is survived by her 3 children, Sharon (Gene) Kockelman of Clarkfield, Marilyn (Ron) Sammons of Atwater, MN, and Greg Kurkowski of Wyoming, MN; 5 grandchildren, Jeff (Selena) Kockelman, Jade Wadsworth, Tristen (Angie) Wadsworth, Jesse (Carrie) Wadsworth, and Misty (Kyle) Maher; 9 great-grandchildren, Ashley, Madison, Ben, Blake, Matthew, Dallas, Lili, Freddy, and Sonny; great-great-grandson, Greyson; 4 step-grandchildren and 8 step-great-grandchildren; sister, Betty Rogers, and many nieces and nephews.
Private family services will be held.
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