Ted James Hanenburg

Theodore James Hanenburg passed away on October 28, 2022, at the age of one hundred. Theodore, known as Ted, also gained the nickname “Red” due to his red hair. Ted was born on January 19, 1922 to Peter and Hattie (Hoitinga) Hanenburg on a farm near Edgerton, MN, the youngest of 10 children. His mother died when he was only five years old, and his sister Jenny assumed the role of mother to Ted and the household as a whole. He graduated from eighth grade at Edgerton Christian Elementary School and attended one year at Edgerton High School. He then worked on the farm. On March 7, 1944, he married Jeanette De Jong. Ted and Jeanette had four children and farmed until Ted took a job at Brink’s John Deere Implement, where he worked as a parts manager. He retired in 1987 and enjoyed fishing, woodworking, tending the garden, music, and reading.

Ted will be remembered for his love of Jesus, and his appreciation of the intellectual side of spirituality and religion. His joy in music was evident throughout his life–he loved singing during Sunday worship, and had a particular love of classical music. His favorites were Beethoven, especially the 5th symphony, Tchaikovsky, Handel, and the opera Aida. Ted was also an avid reader, and rarely to be found without a book next to his chair, where he also loved to watch the Minnesota Twins. He spent many hours in his woodworking shop, carefully crafting beautiful heirlooms such as nativity scenes and Bible holders.

Ted is survived by his wife of 78 years, Jeanette Hanenburg. He is also survived by three children: D. Jay (Betty) Hanenburg, Mary (Warren) Lubben, and Beth (Randy) Spronk. He is preceded in death by a son, Terry Hanenburg, his parents, and his siblings. Ted is also survived by six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

God was the center of Ted’s home, and he lived his life by Lord’s Day 1 of the Heidelberg Catechism, which he wished to be remembered by:

Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.EndFragment

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