Frank Hanson Obituary
Frank Hanson, 74, died peacefully at his home in Anchorage on March 14, 2012, following a long struggle with prostate cancer.
Born to Hans and Hulda Hanson on November 17, 1937 in Paradise, California, Frank moved with his family to a remote mining camp at Nuka Bay, Alaska at the age of four months. The family later settled in Anchorage where they first lived on Fireweed Lane and then homesteaded "Hanson Acres."
Frank attended local schools, graduating from Anchorage High in 1955. He earned a degree at Pacific Lutheran College before returning to Anchorage to help run the family business, Spenard Fuel, with his brother Rolph. After selling the business, the brothers started a land development company, Valley Ventures. Frank then pursued his longtime interest in the stock market and became a broker for Wedbush, Noble & Cooke (later, Wedbush Securities).
Following his retirement in 2000, Frank maintained his passion for stocks, rising early to watch the market activity. He enjoyed Alaska summers in his motor home and loved sailing and boating. Last October, Frank watched the St. Louis Cardinals, his favorite baseball team since boyhood, win the World Series – again. In recent years, Frank wintered in Goodyear, Arizona and took special delight in his backyard swimming pool. His hospitality, passion for wines, and irrepressible sense of humor were infectious with family and friends alike.
A member of Central Lutheran Church from early youth to adulthood, Frank was an active member for the past 30 years at First Congregational Church. He also attended Estrella Mountain Church while in Arizona.
Frank leaves behind his wife of 27 years, Marilyn Hanson and three stepchildren – Mike (Randi) Hesslink, Debra (Mark) Randall and Cheri (Kevin) Quinn; three children from his marriage to JoanneHanson – Lynne (Ken) Miller, Kathryn (Tad) Arstein and Darran (Li Er) Hanson; sister-in-law Betsy Hanson and her children Ingrid Hanson, Dee Hanson (John Parrott), Audrey (Winthrop) Faulkner and Hans Hanson; fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.
A memorial service for Frank will take place on Friday, March 30, 2012 at 11:00am at First Congregational Church, 2610 East Northern Lights Boulevard. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the roof repair fund for FCC in memory of Frank Hanson