Margo W Hanson

Margo Winnebell Hanson passed away peacefully at home near Cushing, Wisconsin, on February 6, 2025, with her husband and son holding her hands. She faced her final days as she lived—one day at a time, with quiet strength, grace, and resilience in the face of illness and pain.

Born June 3, 1947, in West Bend, Wisconsin, to Merlin Wilkens and Myrtle Kirmse, Margo grew up on a farm in the Newburg area, surrounded by a close-knit family of cousins, aunts, and uncles. She graduated from West Bend High School before earning a degree in horticulture from Rochester, Minnesota Technical College. With that knowledge and a green thumb, she launched her own greenhouse business, Geraniums by Margo.

On March 4, 1972, Margo married Russell Hanson, and together they built a life rooted in love and hard work. Their son, Scott, was born in 1975, and both Russell and Scott survive her, along with her brother, Larry Wilkens (Judy) of West Bend.

Margo dedicated much of her life to caring for others, working for many years as a nursing assistant. She treated each patient with the same kindness and attentiveness she would have given to her own grandparents. But beyond her professional work, she was a tireless volunteer, deeply involved in preserving local history and storytelling. She served as longtime president of the Polk County Genealogy Society, was a board member of the Luck Area Historical Society and the Sterling Eureka and Laketown Historical Society, and participated in the Northwest Wisconsin Regional Writers group, where she shared vivid recollections of her childhood on the farm.

You may have met Margo at the Red School House at the county fair, where she coordinated volunteers, or perhaps you bought plants from her at the farm on Evergreen Avenue during the River Road Ramble. Wherever she was, Margo was a bright and gentle presence, always looking for the good in life, always meeting very difficult challenges with cheerful persistence.

Per Margo’s wishes, no formal service will be held. She will be laid to rest in the Wolf Creek Cemetery in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to one of the organizations she dedicated her time to, ensuring that her passion for history, community, and storytelling lives on.

There are several more pages on this website. At the very top are links to each page.

I, Russ Hanson, have been writing stories about Margo for many years. You can find some of them at my Blog and searching for "Margo"

Margo in the blog

June 2013 Margo finishes treatment for Stage 4 Breast Cancer at Mayo Clinic

Breakfast at the farm kitchen table in Cushing, WI

Margo and son Scott move indoor flowers to the outdoors for the summer

Margo volunteers at the Polk County Fair. She organzied the volunteers for the Historic Red School House.

Margo and Scott at Mayo where her failing health sent her often in her last 2 years.

Scott and Margo having dinner. She loved to go to restaurants and often went with Scott.

As walking became a problem, Margo started crusing in Winnebell, her electric golf cart, named after Margo Winnebell Wilkens Hanson.

Margo loved to bake Christmas Cookies

Margo married Russ Hanson, March 4, 1972.

Bridal group

Margo and Russ on the Hanson Farm near Cushing

Margo was a volunteer and board member of the Luck Historical Society . Here she is with director, Rachel.

Margo and her niece Nickie

Mid 1970s when Russ was a school teacher and they lived on Washington Island, WI

Scott was born September, 13, 1975 in Iron Mountain Michigan. Margo and Russ lived in Goodman, WI where Russ was a school teacher.

Mother-in-law Albeta Hanson, Niece Sarah Vogland and Margo

2012 Margo was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. She had 18 months of treatment and recovered after many setbacks.

Russ and Margo took many mid-winter short vacations to the southern USA.

Russ and Margo dressed to go out.

Margo, niece Sarah and Sister-in-law Sheila

Margo as a little girl sitting on her grandpa's Ford Tractor. Margo bought her own Ford tractor about 1985 and it is still in use on the Hanson farm.

Alberta Hanson and her daughter-in-laws. Margo, Sheila, Connie and Alberta

Alberta and the girls plucking chickens on the Hanson Farm.

On Washington Island, Margo took a woodworking class and built a weaving loom. She took it up as a hobby. Here she and niece Nickie are working on the warp threads.