Judy Hanek (Hovelson) passed away May 12, 2023, due to advanced Alzheimer’s.
Judy was born in Preston, Minn., November 20, 1941, to Eugene and Carmen Hovelson.
Judy went to nursing school and earned her LPN degree. While working as a nurse she met her first husband, Robert D. Hanek, MD. They lived in Denver, Colo., where she gave birth to her daughter Karen in 1963. They spent a year in Sitka, Alaska, and a year in Tanana, Alaska. They moved briefly to Park Falls, Wis., where her second child, Bill Hanek was born. Ultimately, they returned to Alaska and raised their family in Fairbanks.
Judy left Alaska in 1985, drove the AlCan Highway all the way to Oregon in January, where she owned Allegro Medical Transcription, and the Grateful Head Hat Company.
Judy realized true happiness when married Steve Sample! Sadly, she only had about 11 years with him when he lost his battle with rheumatoid arthritis. Judy moved to Salem, Oreg., to be close to her daughter after Steve passed.
Judy is survived by her daughter Karen McCurdy (Leon), her son Bill Hanek (Deb Dwinnell), her uncle Charlie Winch, and a few nieces and nephews.
A service to spread some of her ashes on her parents’ grave will be held September 18 at Crown Hill Cemetery.
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