Darwin Hanson, 71

We are saddened to share that Darwin Hanson earned his wings on March 15, 2024, with his “bride” Nadine and children by his side. He was such a devoted husband, father, and Papa.

Darwin was born on May 17, 1952, to Cliff and Delores Hanson in Minot, North Dakota. When he was a high school senior, the family packed up and drove to Alaska to live. Darwin decided to return to Washington to graduate from high school there. His parents were outdoorsmen and loved to fish and hunt, which gave him many memories of trips together hunting sheep, moose, and caribou.

Darwin loved any wild adventure he could come up with and get someone to go along with him! His favorite was in 1970 when he invited a guy he had met at a party to ride motorcycles up the Alcan Highway to Alaska. They are best friends to this day and have shared too many adventures to mention. Darwin loved skydiving, driving Nascars, jumping from cliffs and scuba diving in the tropics to name a few.

Darwin joined the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union Local 367 in 1973. During his 31 years with the union, he worked on the Trans Alaska Pipeline and was a job foreman on numerous projects in the Anchorage area. He was so proud to take an early retirement in 2004 at age 52. He loved the trade so much that he founded Northern Education in Anchorage. In 2009, he received a Certified Instructor Training in Plumbing and Pipefitting certificate from Washtenaw Community College. With this he taught basic plumbing, North Slope safety training, CPR, first aid and OSHA rules through Alaska Work Partnership in three different Alaskan villages. Finally, he taught plumbing at the women’s Highland Prison in Eagle River, Alaska.

In 2010 his “bride” (his treasured name for Nadine) retired and together they travelled all over the country on a Honda Goldwing with the 5th wheel or the motorhome. After that, they started taking cruises to the Caribbean, Mexico, and Jamaica. Sadly, the last cruise on Darwin’s bucket list was the Panama Canal but his illness intervened.

Darwin and Nadine were married on December 20, 1990, in Maui, Hawaii. Together between his two children and her two children, they have been blessed with five of the most amazing grandchildren. He made sure that each of the grandkids had special memories of camping and fishing trips. He was their number one fan, watching every hockey game possible, even if it meant going out of state to watch the action.

There wasn’t much Darwin couldn’t accomplish. He remodeled homes they purchased by “fixing it” or “big deal it.” Darwin would leave an impression on anyone he would ever meet. He had this sense of humor that would remain in your heart forever.

Darwin was preceded in death by his parents, Cliff and Delores Hanson, and his father-in-law, Chub Hancock. He is survived by his wife Nadine Hanson, daughters Vanessa (Jay) Dupree, Erica (Jeff) Arnold, Stacey Richards and son Kevin (Catalina) Hanson and mother-in-law Marjorie Hancock. Also by his siblings Diana Gerondale, Cheryl (Pat) Herter, Linda (Stan) Babnik, Lee (Yvonne) Hancock, Sandra Rose, brother-in-law Wes Norris and Terri (Jeff) Matthis. And lastly by his cherished grandchildren, Maxwell, Benjamin and Isabel Dupree, Emma, and Wyatt Arnold.

A Celebration of Life will be held in Anchorage, Alaska, during the summer, and a graveside ceremony will be held at Elm Park Cemetery in Baudette, MN, at a later date.