Frederick W. Hansen's Obituary
Frederick W. Hansen1915 - 2002Frederick W. (Walt) Hansen, a lifelong resident of TacomaÂ's North End, passed away December 7, 2002, after an extended illness. A booster of Tacoma and the Northwest he would never have considered living anywhere else. He took great pride in his ability as a rose grower and his yard was a neighborhood attraction throughout the summer months. A graduate of Stadium High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Reserve in 1937. His Marine Reserve Unit was activated in 1940. He became forever a Marine. Returning to Tacoma in 1941 he assisted in the establishment of Marine Iron Works, Inc. where he spent the years of World War II supervising the production of parts for most of the Navy and Army vessels built in TacomaÂ's shipyard. Eventually his interest turned from iron and steel to pre-stressed concrete with supervisory positions at Concrete Technology in Tacoma and Olympian Stone at Redmond. He retired from Olympian Stone in 1976. During his retirement years he worked as an inspector on construction projects and as a consultant on matters relating to pre-stressed concrete uses. Walt was a long time member of the Tacoma Elks Lodge where he participated in numerous community service projects and, during his retirement, he loved to play bridge. He and his family were members of St. Lukes Episcopal Church in Tacoma where he served on the Church Vestry. He and his late wife Betty Claire (Esshom) were married for 52 years prior to her death in 1997. Walt is survived by a son, Walter Clay Hansen of Tacoma; two daughters, Judy Diane Jones of Gig Harbor and Susan Joanna Crabtree of Yelm, five grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and two brothers; James C. Hansen of Gig Harbor and Donald P. Hansen of Bellevue. A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, December 12, 2002at St. Lukes Episcopal Church in Tacoma.
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