Mark L. Hanson

On December 15, 2016 our beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother in-law and friend passed away. Mark was born to Harold and Helen Hanson on January 28, 1944. Mark was raised in Tacoma, Washington and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1962. In 1967 he and his wife, Susan, moved to Unalakleet, Alaska where Mark taught school. Later he served as an administrator for the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Nome, Alaska area, was the Director of the Adult Basic Educational Program in Southeast Alaska, and was one of the three Assistant Directors to the Southeast Regional Resource Center in Juneau, Alaska.

In 1988 Mark was the President of the International Commission on Adult Basic Education and in 1989 the President of the Association of School and Curriculum Development.

After 25 years as an educator, Mark began a second career as a real estate agent in Juneau, Alaska. In 2002, he and his wife moved to Hawaii where Mark began his retirement. In 2008 Mark and Susan moved to Shelton where Mark helped build their home.

Mark is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Susan; his beloved children, one son and his wife, Chris and Helene Hanson of Phoenix and one daughter and her husband Sarah and Phil Hofstetter of Nome, Alaska. Mark had five grandchildren: Sage Hanson, Danielle and Emily Register, Hahnah and Joey Hofstetter. He is also survived by his brother Ross and his wife Nadine of Tacoma, his brother Scott and his wife Janice of Tacoma and his sister DeeDee Fraga and her husband Oscar of Federal Way.

Mark was preceded in death by his father Harold Hanson, his mother Helen Hanson and his infant brother Jay.

The family wishes to thank Visiting Angels of Olympia, Brookdale Harbor Bay in Gig Harbor, St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, Right at Home in Gig Harbor, and Franciscan Hospice and Palliative Care in University Place, WA.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to AFTD (The Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration).