Hans, Carol Lee West

Carol Lee West Hans passed away Nov. 15, 2011, at the age of 85.

Born in Keokuk Hospital on Sept. 16, 1926, she was the daughter of Silas and Cleo (Slavin) West. Carol Lee graduated from Kirksville, Mo., High School in the class of 1944 as valedictorian. She attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College and transferred to Iowa State University, where she met Eldon J. Hans at a university mixer. They married Dec. 21, 1947, at the Kirksville, Mo., United Methodist Church.

A lifelong academic, Carol graduated in 1948 with her B.S. degree in dietetics, her M.S. degree in 1975 and her Ph.D. in nutrition education in 1990 from Iowa State University

She served as ISU Extension Home Economist in Buchanan County for nine years and joined Iowa State University Extension staff as nutritionist in 1985 where she served until her retirement in 1996.

She was a lifelong member of PEO, Chapter LI; Daughters of the American Revolution; Daughters of the American Colonists and Omicron Nu.

Carol was past president of the Vinton, Iowa, Community school board, served on the Witwer board of directors, Linn County Empowerment Board, and was a long time member and past chair of The Heritage Agency Advisory Council. She also served on the Linn and Johnson County Task Forces and the Resource Development Committee. She was a past member of Linn County Area Council on Aging and was a recipient of the 1995 White House Conference on Aging Award.

She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Eldon; two daughters, Linda Hans Pruett of Visalia, Calif., and Anne Hans Nordstrom of Cedar Rapids; two sons, James L. Hans of Indian Wells, Calif., and John W. Hans of Eagan, Minn.; sons-in-law, Lon R. Pruett of Visalia, Calif., and David V. Nordstrom of Cedar Rapids; daughter-in-law Jill Fulenwider Hans of Indian Wells, Calif.; and her beloved grandchildren, Lt. Trevor W. and Timeen Wegmeyer-Pruett, Andrea Lee Pruett, Charles W. Nordstrom, Andrew J. Nordstrom and Benjamin W. Hans.

She was preceded in death by parents, Silas and Cleo West; and her sister, Elizabeth Ann Pryor.

Carol's memorial service will be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. The family visitation will be Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Carol's remains will be inurned at St. Paul's columbarium in a private family service. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Iowa State University Foundation, College of Human Sciences, 2505 University Blvd., Ames, IA 50010 and Witwer Center, 605 Second Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401.

Online condolences may be left for the family at  under obituaries.

Published Nov. 17, 2011, in The Gazette