Barbara Chambers Hanson

Barbara Hanson was a strong, loving and patient woman, a woman with great intelligence, character and charisma. She was a loyal sister, devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, and someone who helped so many. Barbara had a passion for antiques, of finding the good where others could not, just as she always saw the good in each of us. Barbara's story began on a cool fall day in 1938, a time of such hope in this country. Once mired in the dark days of the Great Depression, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal was creating jobs, and rebuilding a nation's morale. In the little town of Wellsville, in upstate New York, Glen and Helena (Olsowski) Chambers found reason to celebrate, as well, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl. Barbara was born on September 22, 1938, on a cool Thursday in Wellsville, one of four girls born to the Chambers. Barb joined sister Kay, with sister's Lucy and Sally following later. Her dad had an auto parts store and was a sales rep for Sealed Power, which made piston rings in Muskegon, Michigan. When Barb was just 11, the family moved to Muskegon. She attended Muskegon Junior High and Senior High, and became quite popular. She was a cheerleader, and had many friends in school. During high school Barb worked at Hardy-Herpolsheimers, and always had great clothes (in fact, her little sister Lucy won Best Dressed in her class with Barb's hand-me-downs!). Before Barb's senior year, the family moved to North Muskegon, making her switch schools, something she was very unhappy about. She remained close to her Muskegon High friends, and attended their class reunions over the years. Barb graduated in 1956, and went to the Hackley School of Nursing for two years. She would find much more than a career during this time, though. One day she was enjoying the scenery at Muskegon State Park, when her friend, Bonnie Pickle, introduced her to a handsome young Michigan Tech student named Dave Couch. It was love at first sight for both of them, and they quickly began dating. Just a year later, they were married, and Barb moved to Houghton, Michigan in the U.P. for two years, while her new husband finished school. She found a job waiting tables at the Dog House restaurant at the Douglas Hotel there. After Dave graduated, the newlyweds moved to Milwaukee, where Barb finished up her nursing education. They were also blessed with their first child, their daughter Amy, in 1960. Just three weeks later, the budding family moved to Pennsylvania, newborn in tow. As Dave got promoted, the family moved, - and he was promoted often. Each stop brought with it another child, as well. Son Rob was born in Pennsylvania, son Richard in New Jersey, and back in Pennsylvania they were blessed with Brad. Barb was a stay-at-home mom, and an excellent mother, at that. She also fostered her growing interest in antiques, saving some grocery money each week to add to her collection. Sadly, it was during this time that Dave's parents and his two youngest brothers were involved in a car accident. Only the brothers survived. So Barb and Dave took in the two boys, John and Bob, who were 12 and 14 at the time, making for quite a full household. In 1966, with Barb now exhausted from moving an ever-growing family, the family packed up and moved back to Muskegon, to a house on Mona Lake. Being on the lake, Barb insisted her kids take swimming lessons (when they weren't tearing around the yard on their mini-bikes). She and Dave also became interested in local politics, and Dave served a term on the Norton Shores City Council. Not to be outdone, Barb was elected to the Muskegon County Commission in 1972, the first woman ever elected to the post, serving a two-year term. She was active in her children's lives, as well, from the PTA, or as a Girl Scouts Troop Leader. Ever gracious with her time, she also was active at the First Congregational Church, and volunteered at Every Woman's Place, a women's shelter, and its Nearly New Shop. Later in the 1970s, Barb went to work as a nurse at the Muskegon County Jail, and later Hackley Hospital in the radiology department and psych ward. Eventually she went to work for Muskegon Community Mental Health and then as a prison nurse for the State of Michigan Correction System, at several different prisons. Sadly, her marriage to Dave didn't last, and they divorced in 1978. She had her family, her job, and her hobbies to keep her occupied, though. Especially her hobby. Barb became the ultimate antique enthusiast, and she and her sister Lucy operated a booth at various antique malls. They never made much money (and sometimes bought more than they sold!) but they always had fun. They'd call each other with "Antique Alert!" and hit estate sales. It wasn't a small hobby, either, and Barb's collection soon filled her two-car garage, basement and much of her house! She was particularly fond of old dollhouses and unfinished pine furniture she could work on. Her children were always incredibly patient with mom's passion, as patient as she certainly was with everyone else. Barb's true passion was caring for people, seeing the good in them, and helping them. She lovingly cared for her sisters Kay and Sally as they went through cancer treatments, as well as both of her parents, even moving in to care for her father in the last year of his life. Of course, above all, Barb loved her grandchildren dearly, and loved to spoil them. It was always, "Grammy's house, Grammy's rules," which meant whatever the grandkids wanted, they got, from candy and sweets (they called her Grandma Nut), to once, a joyride in her car on the front lawn - with her 12-year-old grandson driving by himself! She always loved children, though, and famously dressed up as a witch each Halloween to pass out treats and scare the kiddies. Barb was so vivacious, and loved to clown around and have fun. Barb found love again after Dave, too. She met a man named Mike Hanson, and the two had a wonderful, if tumultuous, relationship for 15 years. They were members of the Vikings club, which they enjoyed together. The two fought quite a bit, and split up often, but Barb always saw the good in him, and eventually took him back. They were married, divorced and remarried, before Mike sadly died in 2001. Barb finally retired in 2003, and enjoyed spending her free time with her grandkids and of course, antiquing. Sadly, she died unexpectedly on July 31, 2006. Barb was a remarkable woman, of great character, compassion and charisma. She was a loving wife, doting mother and grandmother, and a woman who helped so many in her lifetime. She will be so greatly missed. Mrs. Barbara Chambers Hanson, age, 67, died Monday, July 31, 2006. She was born in Wellsville, New York on September 22, 1938 to Glen & Helena (Olsowsky) Hanson. SURVIVORS 3 sons, Rob (Sherrie) Couch, Richard (Paulette) Couch, both of Norton Shores, Brad (Rhonda) Couch of Fruitport; 1 daughter, Amy (Pat) Smith of Norton Shores, 10 grandchildren, Jordan Smith, Andrea Smith, Spencer Smith, Logan Smith, Chad Schmelling, Nikki Schmelling, Max Couch, Shelby Gottas, Michael Couch & Jeremy Couch; 1 sister, Lucy (Jerry) Johnson of Twin Lake. She was preceded in death by 2 sisters, Kay Dubault & Sally Tate. SERVICE Friday, August 4, 2006, 3:00 PM at Clock Chapel-Muskegon with Rev. Mark Zimmerman officiating. VISITATION Thursday, 2-4 & 7-9 PM at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.