Alice Marie Hahn

Alice M (Gitzendanner) Hahn (age 75) passed away peacefully October 8th, 2025, in Springfield Mo. after an 8-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. She managed her illness with grace and dignity. Her legacy is a life of kindness and humility. Alice was a beloved wife, sister, mother, and grandmother. Preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Helen Gitzendanner and her sister Carol Brooks. Survived by her husband Tony, 2 daughters and their spouses, Jennifer Utne (Ben) and Wendy Chaney (Matt), one son Lorne (Sara): 2 brothers, George Gitzendanner (Rita) and Raymond Gitzendanner (Debi): grandchildren Jack, Dante, Elizabeth, Lillian, Olivia, Eileen, and Ava: mother-in-law Barbara and many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Alice was born November 25th, 1949, in Niskayuna, New York, graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1971 with a BA in Psychology and married Tony in 1975 at St Thomas Moore Church in Norman Ok. She and Tony owned and operated a small restaurant in Norman for 3 years and then moved to Springfield and owned a small pest control company for 47 years. Alice attended and was a founding member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton church.
Alice loved various family gatherings and holidays. One such get-together was a trip to Disney with the children and grandchildren late in life. That outing was especially meaningful to her and she reminisced about it often.
Alice led a very active life. She enjoyed her daily jogs and walks, and she was a member of Ozark Mountain Ridgerunners. She loved participating in races and fun runs. A highlight for her was competing in the Pikes Peak accent race in 1989. She loved her pets and there was always a pup in the house. She was a member of The Springfield Mo Dog Training Club and Pet Therapy of the Ozarks. She gave comfort to many people during pet therapy visits who had the same illness that she herself acquired. Alice also practiced Taekwondo for several years and proudly earned her Black Belt in 2012 at the age of 63.
Many who knew Alice closely also knew she suffered all her adult life with a reoccurring mental illness (BPD). At times it could completely debilitate her. Despite this she fought bravely to come back from each episode, more determined than ever to lead a complete life and showed herself to be a shining example to her family.
Special thanks to some very loving caregivers at Birch Pointe that have given comfort to Alice for the last 3 years.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Springfield, Missouri.
There will be a visitation at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home on Monday October 13, 2025, from 10 AM- 12 PM. A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Care has been entrusted to Walnut Lawn Funeral Home, Ltd. and DeGraffenreid-Wood Crematory.