Dr. Elizabeth Jean Thomson

Funeral services for Dr. Elizabeth Thomson were held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2015 at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson. Rev. Julia E.F. Poulsen of the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson provided words of comfort. Jim Hanson, Cathy Balthazar, David Hanson, Shay Dinata Hanson and Carla Lawson shared loving memories of Elizabeth. A reading of the poem If Roses Grow in Heaven was shared by Jennifer Schebel. Casket bearers were David Hanson, Lee Balthazar, Roger Williamson, James Smith, Jon Hovick and Cody Schebel. Honorary bearers were Thomas Thomson, Gene Mauer, Loren Taylor, Robert Hanson, Jay Hanson, Thomas Hanson, Don Rushing, Bruce Robbins, James Bartley, Godfrey Oakley, Jaime Frias, Jeff Murray and Shiva Patil. Sheryl Sloan was organist and Kyle Roeder was soloist. Music selections were You Raise Me Up and His Eyes on the Sparrow. Visitation was held after 2:00 p.m. with family present 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, July 19, 2015 at Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson. Elizabeth Jean Thomson, age 64, died peacefully in her Jefferson, Iowa home in the early morning hours of July 14, 2015. She was born on October 4th, 1950, near Waukon, Iowa to Lester "Bill" and Ann Laurayne (Guider) Thomson. On June 12, 1983, Elizabeth married James William Hanson. They lived in Coralville, Iowa for many years, where their beloved daughter Jennifer was born, and they helped raise James' children Catherine, John, and David. Elizabeth had an extraordinary and rewarding career that took her from being a nurse specializing in labor and delivery; to becoming a genetic counselor, eventually founding an international group for nurses in genetics; to two decades as a program director for the National Human Genome Research Institute's Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications Research Division. Elizabeth completed her nursing training at St. Luke's Hospital and her undergraduate degree in nursing from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She earned a Master's in Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health from the University of Iowa and a Doctorate of Nursing Science from Johns Hopkins University. She was highly regarded as a pioneer in her field, with many publications that included seminal works in nursing genetics and public health. During her tenure she received numerous awards and distinctions for her outstanding work and service. Elizabeth was a mentor to many aspiring professionals, and was acknowledged for her inspiration and support to colleagues. Family and friends remember Elizabeth for her generosity, humor and style. Always ready to laugh, bake bread, put a puzzle together, play a game of cards, talk about roses, or listen to any story, she made each person feel special, loved, understood and well-fed. Elizabeth's love for people and all things good were the basis of countless family gatherings and regular parties, as she welcomed people from all walks of life and all parts of the world into her home. Elizabeth is survived by her husband James W. Hanson; their daughter Jennifer and her husband Cody Schebel and their daughter Katelyn Elizabeth; stepdaughter Catherine and her husband Lee Balthazar and their sons Ryan, Ian and William; stepson John Hanson and his children Emma and James, and their mother Shay Dinata Hanson; stepson David Hanson and his wife Jennifer Kavka and their children Benjamin and Sasha. Other survivors include her siblings Thomas (Lynn) Thomson, Carolyn Thomson (Gene Mauer), Kathy (Loren) Taylor, and Kris Tyree; and many nieces and nephews, including Jill, Jason, and Mark Taylor; and Todd Meyer and his daughters Chelsey and Courtney. Elizabeth was preceded in death by her mother and father, her dear niece Lori Meyer, and her brother-in-law Thomas Tyree. Visitation will be at Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson, Iowa on Sunday, July 19th, from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Family will be in attendance from 4:00 to 6:00. Funeral services will be at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson, Iowa, on Monday, July 20th, from 10:00 to 12:00. A private interment is planned. Elizabeth's family wishes to recognize the extraordinary kindness, love, and generosity of their friends, especially long-time family friend Betty Johnson; John and Alice Hamilton, Denise O-Brien Van, and the JCHS Class of 1961; the many friends and relatives from Jefferson, Greene County and the state of Iowa; and the caregivers who welcomed her to Jefferson and made it possible for her to live and die at home. Susan and Duane Forkner, Billie Jo and Jon Hovick, Danene Pena, Denise Moranville, and the staff of St. Jude Hospice, you have made an indelible mark on our hearts.