R. Paul Hanson

1937 - 2021

R. Paul Hanson passed away on Thursday, February 25, 2021, from complications due to a stroke. Paul was born in Nome, Alaska, in 1937, to Rev. Ralph Hanson and wife Alice, who were missionaries in western Alaska.

Paul spent much of his childhood in Chicago and was an active member of the Boy Scouts, earning the achievement of Eagle Scout. Paul later attended North Park College where he met his wife, Louella.

After they were married, Paul earned a degree in Forestry from Oregon State University and over the next 10 years the Hanson's lived in a handful of lumber towns in western Oregon and Washington, before settling down in Forks, with their three sons.

In the early 70s, Paul started selling insurance and served as an agent for State Farm for 26 years in Forks and, later, in Sequim. Though he no longer worked in the woods, Paul maintained his love of forestry on the family Christmas tree farm, near Forks.

Paul's faith in God was central to his life and was part of everything he did. He was an active member and elder at Forks Bible Church and Sequim Bible Church, as well as in the Gideons International. He was also a member of the Rotary Club and was an avid bicyclist, logging thousands of miles across North America and Sweden.

In 2013, Paul and Lou moved from their home in Sequim to a retirement facility in greater Seattle.

Paul is survived by his wife, Lou; sons, Doug, David and Mark; 10 grandchildren and 10 great- grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes can be made to Gideons International (gideons.org).