Ovila Hanna

Ovila J. Hanna, age 97 of Lake Mills, passed away on Sunday, September 14, 2025 at the Lake Mills Care Center.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 20 at Salem Lutheran Church, 401 S. Lake St. in Lake Mills, with Pastor Bill Peters officiating.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 19, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Schott Funeral Homes Mittelstadt Chapel, 902 E. Main St. in Lake Mills and will continue one hour before the service at church on Saturday.

Burial will be in the North Prairie Lutheran Cemetery, rural Leland, Iowa.

Ovila Jean (Hermanson) Hanna was born at home on March 19, 1928 to James and Olga (Kloster) Hermanson. She was baptized at Winnebago Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson, Iowa.

She went to country school south of Winnebago Lutheran Church as a young girl, attended Leland High School for 2 years, and graduated from Lake Mills High School. During high school, Ovila worked at the telephone company in Lake Mills as a telephone operator and as a waitress for 10 cents/hour. After graduating, she moved to Minneapolis where she did office work at Sears.

Ovila met Carl Hanna roller skating in Forest City, Iowa in 1946. They were married October 5, 1947 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa and blessed with five daughters.

Carl and Ovila lived and worked together on the family farm four miles west of Lake Mills. They were active members of North Prairie Lutheran Church and held many offices in the church until its closing. She then became a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Lake Mills.

Ovila moved from the farm to Lake Mills in 2006 where she resided until moving to Mills Harbour Assisted Living in 2018. She was active there, and enjoyed many friends and activities. Ovila was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over 50 years, she enjoyed quilting (making one for each of her daughters), embroidery, baking the best buns and Kringla.

Ovila is survived by five daughters: Emily Voldahl of Lake Mills, IA, Julie Kahl of Grand Meadow, MN, Bonnie Helland of Titonka, IA, Jean (Shane) Reinlasoder of Lake Mills, IA, and Laura VonHinueber of St. Paul, MN; a brother Ken Hermanson residing at the Lake Mills Care Center; 12 grandchildren: Julie (Kyle) Bigler, Stephanie Colby (Ryan Evans), Melissa (Kevin) Bill, Anna (Kerry) Hayden, Jody Kahl (Nathan Tlougan), Crystal (Kyle) Stern, Bryan Helland (Miguel Llamas), John (Dusty) Helland, Matthew (Chantel) Storby, Lucas (Ashley) Storby, Marcus VonHinueber (Emily VanRanst), and Carlee (Jeremy) VonHinueber- McCouch; great grandchildren: Taylor (Bryan Lathrop) Bigler, Aidan Colby, Keaton Colby, Kaleb (Sierra) Bill, Collin (Nicole) Kubat-Bill, Kendall Hayden, Claire Hayden, Alyssa Hayden, Gina Stier, Ava Stier, Hanna Stier, Ryder Stern, Madisyn Stern, Krosby Stern, Brody Larson, Rian (Ethan Kain) Helland, Lexi (Colton Skarpohl-Ost) Helland, Jonas Helland, Oliver Helland, Braylen Storby, Sutton Storby, Brecken Storby, Jackson Storby, Noah Storby, Michael VonHinueber, and Vivian VonHinueber; and great-great- grandchildren: Kaiden & Sofia Bill, Nevaeh Kubat-Bill, and Lainey Jo Kain. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents James and Olga Hermanson; husband Carl Hanna; brother Roger Hermanson; sisters-in-law Norma Alvey, Betty Hermanson, Mary Ann Hermanson, Geneva Brekke, Helen Purdy, Alvera Lovick, and Eleanor Hanna; brothers-in-law Reuben Hanna, Thelford Brekke, Roy Purdy, and James Lovick; sons-in-law Mike VonHinueber, Lowell Storby, Larry Voldahl and Allan Helland; grandchildren Susan Voldahl and Kameron Bill; a niece Lori Hermanson; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.