KARL JOHN HANSEN

1937 - 2011

Karl "Sonny" John Hansen, age 73, peacefully passed away, surrounded by family on March 30, 2011 at Island Hospital in Anacortes.

He was born in Ballard, WA on December 15, 1937 to Carl and Irene (Berntsen) Hansen. After his father's death, Irene, Sonny and his loving sisters, Julie and Bernice, relocated to Anacortes.

Karl enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1958, and following boot camp married the love of his life, Sharon Erickson on September 18, 1959. He served for four years in the Navy, and during this time their son, Daniel and daughter, Kim were born. Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, the family moved to Pomona, CA, where their third child, Christal was born. He worked at Owen-Illinois Libby Glass as a batch house operator for ten years.

From the age of sixteen, Sonny's passion was always fishing. Sonny and the family moved to Anacortes in 1971 to pursue his dream. He captained the Shar-O-Net for many years, fishing and crabbing the Puget Sound area. Family and fishing were his life. In between fishing seasons, he worked at the refineries. He retired in 2002 after 10 years, but continued to crab fish for several years.

Generally, Sonny was a quiet man unless he had something important to say. He was kind, caring, loving, respectful, and touched so many people with his huge heart. He will be greatly missed by all.

He was preceded in death by his father, Carl; son, Daniel; mother, Irene; stepfather, Virgil; father-in-law, Albert; brother-in-law, Dale; and nephew, Brian.

His surviving family are, wife, Sharon of 51 years; sisters, Julie (Ron) Pederson and Bernice McKay; his daughters, Kim (Dan) Parmer and Christal Balthazor; grandchildren, Dakota and Sienna Balthazor, Austin and Danielle Parmer; and nephews, Scott and Robin Cameron.

Graveside Services for family and friends will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 7th at Grandview Cemetery in Anacortes. All are welcome to attend.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the ICU doctors and nurses at Island Hospital and the doctors and nurses at Swinomish Tribal Health Clinic for their care and compassion.

Memorials are suggested to: The Island Hospital Foundation, Medical Relief Fund, 1211-24th St., Anacortes, WA 98221; The Cat's Meow, 803-4th St., Anacortes; the Anacortes Food Bank, 512-4th St., Anacortes; or the Salvation Army, 3001 R Ave., Ste #100, Anacortes.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory, Inc., Anacortes, WA and the San Juan Islands.

To share memories of Karl, please sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.