November 2, 1925 - August 30, 2019
Allen Alexander Hansen, son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great- grandfather. Born in Lethbridge, Alberta on November 2, 1925; passed away August 30, 2019 at 93 years of age.
Allen was born to, Marry and Chris Iver Hansen living on a lease-land farm in Coaldale Alberta. Shortly after his father's death in 1930, mother Marry moved to Lethbridge as a single mother of four children.
At a young age Allen followed brother Lloyd into the Armed Forces and served as a Seaman on frigates in the Atlantic to the end of WWII. After the war, Allen went to work for Canadian Pacific Railway as a brakeman on the steam trains which were providing freight and passenger service in Canada at that time. Allen worked many years with C.P.R as a Trainman on the Budd Car passenger trains and freight trains servicing the communities of Southern Alberta and British Columbia. A personable guy, Dad enjoyed meeting and helping all the many passengers and friends he met while working on the trains.
In 1950 Allen met and married Helen Welbourn in Nelson, B.C. The newlyweds moved to Lethbridge and quickly started their own family with Robert arriving first in 1950, Christine in 1952 and lastly Lloyd in 1955. Dad continued working on the Budd Car passenger service traveling from Lethbridge to Cranbrook, Calgary, and Medicine Hat.
In 1960 Allen accepted a C.P Rail transfer and relocated his family to Cranbrook where he and Helen lived for the remainder of his life. Dad retired from C.P Rail in 1985 with 43 years' service and enjoyed 34 glorious years of retirement.
Early in life Allen developed his lifelong passion - GOLF. Both Allen and Helen were long-term members of the Cranbrook Golf and Country Club. Highlights of Dad's golf life included many trips south golfing in Oregon and California, tournaments in Southern B.C. and Alberta, and getting a Hole-in-One on hole #15 of the Cranbrook course on July 8th, 1993, being witnessed by his long-time golf friend who was also a Supreme Court Judge. One of Dad's greatest enjoyments was to be out on the golf course with his family.
Grandchildren were near and dear to Dad's heart and many hours were spent entertaining the kids. Dad was very patient with his grand-children and would spend countless hours playing store, checkers, or crib, washing cars, teaching golf - or whatever it took to keep the kids' content. Great grandchildren came later in life. Fortunately, Dad had the opportunity to meet and spend time with all his great grandchildren. Only days prior to his passing he was watching with interest videos of the most recent arrival at 10 months of age taking her first steps.
Allen is survived by his wife of 69 years, Helen; sister Joyce; sons Robert and Lloyd; grandchildren Robert Day, Deanna King (Christine), Tanya Hansen, Tara Hansen (Robert), Alexandra Hansen, Gina Dahl (Lloyd) and six great grandchildren.
Dad was predeceased by father Chris; mother Marry; brothers Lloyd and Melvin; and daughter Christine.
A funeral mass will be held for Allen Alexander Hansen on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 10 am at Christ the Servant Church 1100 - 14th Avenue S Cranbrook, B.C. This will be followed by a light luncheon reception in the church hall at 11 am and interment at Westlawn Cemetery at 2 pm.
The family extends a heartfelt thank you to all of Allen's caregivers including Doctors Kevin McIver and Sarah Chesney, Staff at Interior Health, and Care Givers at Joseph Creek Care Village, The Green Home and Columbia Garden Village Ivy House.
In lieu of flowers please direct your donations to the Cranbrook Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store, 30 - 8th Avenue South, Cranbrook, BC V1C 2K3 in the name of Allen Alexander Hansen.