Mary Jo Hanson (Krogstad) was welcomed into heaven on Wednesday, October 3rd, with joy and open arms by those who have gone before her: husband Tom, mother Jeanette, Grandma Josie, Aunt Helen, son Dan, and brother John. Though those left behind grieve her passing, we know she is free from worldly worries and bodily afflictions and is now perfect as God intended. Born in Eau Claire on November 6, 1938, Mary Josephine Krogstad graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1956 and married Thomas James Hanson on August 17, 1958 at Grace Lutheran Church. Mary Jo raised four children, Daniel (d. 2006), Elizabeth (David Smith), Laura (Rick Brown), and Sarah in Denver, Colorado before retiring in 1992 to live on a sailboat in the Caribbean. Mary Jo and Tom returned to Eau Claire in 1995 to care for Mary Jo's mother, Jeanette, and Tom's father, Harold, and to reconnect with their many school and church friends but continued to travel, visiting Norway, China, Argentina, Morocco, Portugal, and Mexico (and many others), as well as attending tennis tournaments around the U.S. Mary Jo lived an adventurous life and was an accomplished hostess. She rode on the back of Tom's Honda Gold Wing and was his first mate on their sailboat. As an artist, Mary Jo painted, created beautiful banners for churches, threw pottery, fired ceramics and porcelain, sewed her daughters' wedding dresses, and wrote a cookbook of her favorite recipes. A prolific hostess, Mary Jo generously invited others to her table, especially those with nowhere else to go, and bridged generations, nationalities, and religions with her good food, drink, and open nature. Mary Jo had diverse interests, helping wherever she was, volunteering in her children's activities, at the church, and, later in life, as a tax preparer, and for Meals on Wheels. She was a loving grandmother, glad to have a close relationship with Zachary and Celeste Scola (of Eau Claire) and Tim, Nordica, and Spencer Wellings (of the Northwest). She cheered them on in person at games, matches, and graduations, and visited long-distance by enjoying details by phone. Her five great-grandchildren live in Spokane. In addition, Mary Jo is survived by her sister, Anne Klawiter (Richard), cousin Julie Steffen (Dennis), and their children. The memorial service, at Spirit Lutheran, 1310 Main Street, will be officiated by Pastor Jim Ahlquist, on Tuesday, October 9th, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. with lunch following. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Please join Mary Jo's daughters in celebration to say farewell.

Service Information

Visitation

Tuesday, October 9 2018 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Spirit Lutheran Church 1310 Main St. Eau Claire WI 54701

Memorial Service

Tuesday, October 9 2018 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Spirit Lutheran Church 1310 Main St. Eau Claire WI 54701