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Puget Sound, WA

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IN MEMORIUM
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NWSA "IN MEMORIAM "

LCDR Jack Chris Hansen, USN (RET)
8 July 2006

LCDR Jack Chris Hansen, USN Retired,  age 76, died at his home in Oak Harbor on July 8, 2006, after a long battle with cancer.  He was born February 5, 1930 in Council Bluffs, Iowa to Chris M. Hansen & Merlyn (King) Hansen. Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in Oak Harbor followed by graveside prayers at Maple Leaf Cemetery with full military honors under the auspices of the NAS Whidbey Island Honor Guard.

During the Great Depression Jack’s parents divorced.  He moved with his mother to Ames Iowa, & then to Yakima, Washington after she married Bert Scholey.  When his father returned from WW II, Jack ran off to California to be with him.  His father refused to allow Jack to keep a summer job rather than return to school and Jack returned to Yakima.  His mother enrolled him in the local high school, but he never attended.  Instead, he visited the Navy recruiter.  As a 17 year old received his mother’s consent, thus beginning his Naval career.

Jack was fascinated by flying, but realized that he didn’t qualify to serve as a Naval aviator.  He attended Aerographer’s Mate A school.  In later years found himself briefing pilots at Naval Air Stations and aboard aircraft carriers.  For three years he flew as a weather observer crew member of a Typhoon Tracking squadron out of Guam.  Another highlight of his career came when his forecast was instrumental in changing the landing site for the returning astronauts of the Apollo Eleven mission.

Jack rose steadily through the ranks to the top Navy enlisted rating of Master Chief.  He was a veteran of the Korean & Vietnam wars.  Jack was selected for a commission as an Ensign.  His final tour, as a LCDR, was as the OinC of the NAS Whidbey Island weather Unit.  He retired from the Navy in 1975.

his Flight Instructor rating.  As a civilian he became an instructor at Harvey Field in Snohomish &, after earning a twin engine rating & an Airline Transport license, became the chief pilot.  His reputation for excellence grew in the area, & he went on to become chief pilot at Club One Flight Group at Paine Field & Competition Aircraft at Boeing Field.  He served as a corporate pilot for Fisher & Sons Contracting of Skagit County & for Forensic Consultants, Inc. of Anacortes.  He also set up a business partnership, Multi-Engine Training Operations and taught advanced flying. Jack a consultant to those pilots looking to buy aircraft.  Many of the pilots he trained became airline pilots & were appreciative of the solid foundation he laid for them.

Jack began comprehensive art classes at Skagit Valley College.  His design for the college news-paper logo, a cardinal, was selected to become the official moniker of that newspaper.  All who were acquainted with Jack knew him to be an intelligent, talented man who was never afraid to take on new challenges.

Jack was a member of St. Augustine’s Catholic Church of Oak Harbor; the Quiet Birdmen; the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; the Washington Pilots Association; The Naval Weather Service Association; & the Retired Officers Association. 

He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, Lois L. (Gillihan) Hansen, by his four children & their spouses: Kris E. Hansen & wife Robin of Anacortes; Ray D. Hansen & wife Eileen of Seattle; Alex F. Hansen & wife Karen of Eatonville; & Patricia L. King & husband John of Sequim.  In addition, his brother Michael Scholey of Issaquah & his sister, Patty Drake of Sun City Arizona, & thirteen grandchildren & two great-grandchildren survive him.