WOODLAND – Walter Eugene Hansen Sr., 86, died peacefully Feb. 12, 2016, at home in Woodland, surrounded by family members.
Services will be held Sat., Feb. 20, 2 p.m., at The Promise Church, 101 Hillshire Dr., Woodland, with burial following at Hayes Cemetery. Those attending are invited back to The Promise Church following the burial for food and reminiscing.
Hansen was born May 15, 1929, in Woodland, to August and Esther Hansen. His death was attributed to congestive heart failure.
Hansen attended Green Mountain School and graduated from Woodland High School in 1947. He worked for Sears Roebuck in California and in Portland for six years, then began a long career in the insurance business. At one time he had 300 agents under contract. He continued in the insurance business until December 2014.
Along the way he and his son Walter Jr. established North Fork Motors in Woodland, a business now run by Walter Hansen Jr. At one time, Hansen owned 30 collectible cars. At the time of his death, he still had six, including a 1929 Ford Model A Roadster that had been used in parades.
Hansen's grandparents, Peter and Augusta Hansen, acquired a 100-acre farm in the Hayes area of Clark County in 1897, raising dairy cattle. The farm was later run by Hansen's father, August. Walt Hansen lived on the farm, which had been reduced to 40 acres, at the time of death.
Hansen was active in the Woodland area for many years. He served on the Planters Day Committee over 60 years, and managed the annual frog jumping contest for 47 years. He was a noted area historian. Hansen and his wife, Donna, established the original Woodland Cub Scout Pack 531 and led it from 1963 until 1978.
Hansen chaired the U.S. Bicentennial Committee for the Woodland area in 1976 and served on both the state centennial committee in 1989 and the Woodland centennial committee in 2006. He ran unsuccessfully for Clark County commissioner in 1976 and for the Woodland school board. He was elected to the Hayes Cemetery District board and served on it until his death. He was also elected to the Woodland Swimming Pool District board. He was named Woodland Citizen of the Year in 2013.
Hansen was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Donna, in 2010, grandson Ivan Bailey, sister Donna Hansen, brother Robert Hansen and his parents.
Survivors include sisters Marie Haynes of Battle Ground and Hilda Wiggins-Halsey of Oregon, brother Frank Hansen of College Place, WA, sons Walter (Teresa) Hansen Jr. of Woodland, Monty (Shelly) Hansen and Brad (Lan) Hansen, both of Vancouver, Martin (Rhonda) Hansen of Edgewood, WA, and Larry (Kathy) Hansen of Idaho, daughters Lori (Burle) Hansen-Sargent of Woodland, Gena (Jim) Hansen-Bailey of Vancouver and Lindsey Carrow of Redmond, aunt Gladys Burrill, 18 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
The Woodland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
