Kirsten Hansen

Kirsten A. Hansen, 51, of Fitchburg, formerly of Platteville, Wisconsin, died on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at Ingleside Manor in Mount Horeb.  There will be a memorial service held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at St. James Lutheran Church, Verona, Wisconsin, where immediately following the service there will be a time of lunch and fellowship in the church hall.  Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service.  The Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, is serving the family.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Children's Tumor Foundation (Neurofibromatosis) or the American Cancer Society.  Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.

Kirsten was born on April 5, 1966 in Platteville, Wisconsin, the daughter of Robert “Bob” and Alice (Serstad) Hansen.  She graduated from Platteville High School in 1984 and then graduated Suomi College (now known as Finlandia University) in Michigan and then she also graduated from Southwest Technical College in Fennimore, WI in 1990.  Kirsten started training in ATA Taekwondo in the fall of 2000. She immediately fell in love with both the physical training and the family environment. Over the years, she attended many workouts, seminars, and tournaments all over the Midwest and even in Little Rock, AR (where the ATA headquarters is located). In 2004 & 2006, Kirsten earned a World Champ title in Single Ssahng Jeol Bong (nunchuks); by doing so she achieved a personal goal few people reach.  Just this past April, she was awarded her 4th degree black belt.  Kirsten was a longtime member of the ATA family as both a student and instructor. During her martial arts journey, she grew from a shy, tentative person into a driven, outgoing, black belt instructor who was always a friend to everyone she met.  Another large part of Kirsten's life was being an active member at St. James Lutheran Church in Verona, where she enjoyed helping with the community dinners they put on.  Kirsten worked at American TV in Madison for 14 years and was currently working at Culvers in Verona, where she was loved by all of her coworkers who said she was very dependable, meticulous, and just wonderful to work with and be around.  She will be missed.

Kirsten is survived by her parents; Bob and Alice Hansen of Platteville; brother, Neale Hansen of Madison; aunts and uncles, Jim (Darlene) Hansen, Skip (Litta) Hansen, Thomas (Pam) Hansen, Allen (Barbara) Hansen, Elaine Robinette, and Marian Serstad, as well as, numerous cousins.  She was preceded in death by her uncle, Allan Serstad.