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.

Last Update: Feb 10, 2025 1:09 pm CST