Ross Hansen Mardesen

Ross Hansen Mardesen, son of Leo and Mildred (Hansen) Mardesen, was born July 6, 1937 in Exira, Iowa. At the age of three years his mother died unexpectedly and Ross went to live with his grandmother Anna Hansen. Ross spent a lot of time with Anna's children Robert, Howard, Alice, Della, and Harvey and their children while growing up and considered them his own siblings, including Bev (Nelson) Larsen, Sheryl (Nelson) Denton, Raedell (Nelson) von Holdt, Charles Beck, Janice (Beck) Sumrow, Robert Hansen, Marlis (Hansen) Reeves, Larry Hansen, Delane (Hansen) Kempf, Al Hansen (deceased), Donna (Hansen) Archer, Ed Hansen, Steve Hansen, Kathy (Hansen) Beckett, and Kent Hansen. Ross attended school in Elk Horn and graduated with the Class of 1956. Following graduation, he spent time at the University of Iowa studying engineering. After that, he went to live with his cousin Charles Beck in California for a short time, and then returned to Elk Horn. On August 8, 1968, Ross was united in marriage with Mary Jane Harder. They were the parents of one son and made their home in Elk Horn. Ross was a member of the Elk Horn City Council, the Danish Mutual Board, the Danish Museum Site Committee, and the Iowa Army National Guard during this time. When he first returned to Elk Horn he worked as a mechanic for Esbeck Motors. He then began working for Marne-Elk Horn Telephone Company, retiring in 2002 after 40 years of service. Ross enjoyed golfing; loved to read, especially anything to do with history; compiled genealogy information and collected coins and other items. He liked to tinker with anything mechanical and was a good woodworker. He thoroughly enjoyed meeting for coffee and going out to dinner with his many friends. Ross suffered from many health problems for a number of years. He died at this home in Elk Horn on Friday, July 1, 2011 at the age of 73 years, 11 months and 25 days. Preceding him in death are his parents; his grandmother Anna Hansen who raised him, grandparents, cousin Al Hansen, and step-mother Ethel Mardesen. He is survived by his son Chad Mardesen and wife Teresa of Omaha; two grandchildren Clara Marie and Davis Luke Mardesen of Omaha; former wife Mary Jane Mardesen of Rushmore, MN; step sisters Opal Nelson of Pasadena, TX and Donna Bjorn of Atlantic; cousins who were like siblings and many friends.