Marlene Marie Hanel

Marlene Marie Hanel went to her home in heaven on Friday, December 27, 2024, with her family by her side. She was 83 years old.

Funeral services are 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, with visitation one hour before services. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Marlene was born June 21, 1941, to Edmund and Gertrude (Maurer) Manske in Mankato. She grew up on a farm in Lime Township, and her father started Manske Bus Service. She graduated from Mankato High School in 1959 and worked for a brief time at Blue Earth County in the welfare office. On June 3, 1961, she married David E. Hanel at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato. They raised their young family on South Avenue in North Mankato, then built a house on the Manske family land in 1974. With a head for numbers and a sharp eye for detail, she was instrumental in the success of Hanel Glass, which her husband started in 1976. She kept the books until the last few months of her life.

Her greatest accomplishment was raising her three children, and she took immense pride in her family—nothing made her happier than spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She liked tending to her plants as well as going shopping and to lunch. She and her husband were lifelong members of Immanuel Lutheran Church, where she was church secretary for a time. They enjoyed their years in church choir.

Marlene is survived by her husband, David E. Hanel; three children: Christine (Randy) Larson of Eagle Lake; David W. (Rachael) of Madison Lake; and Gretchen (Bernt) Olmanson of Skyline; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren (with one on the way): Heidi (Brad) Maass and their children, Gavin and Hailey; Sarah (Steve) Mock and their children, Arian and Grayson; Nick Larson (Monica Jones); Noelle (Collin) Schreyer and their children, Roman and Nelly; Luke (Maddie) Olmanson; Peter Olmanson; and Eve Olmanson; brothers- and sisters-in-law Dennis Heinze, Dan and Ann Hanel, Vivian Hanel, and Willa Hanel; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by one son, Michael; her parents; sister, Marian Heinze; and brothers-in-law Gary Hanel and Jamie Hanel.