Stuart Wesley Hansen

    Stuart Hansen, long-time Bonanza resident, died peacefully at Oregon Health Sciences University on February 20,  2023. He was born in Eugene, Oregon on May 1, 1955, to Wesley and Mary(Waibel)Hansen.  Stu was predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Debbie (McDonald); his parents, and niece Julie. He is survived by children Andrea (Jeff), Matt, and Kitty Baby, as well as his mother-in-law, Evelyn. Stu is also survived by grandchildren Austin, Chris, Dot, Easton and a large and loving network of family and friends, including his siblings Brian (Diane), Mary Kay, Gretchen(Gary), Rudy (Pamela),and Paula (Kevin). Stuart loved nothing more than spending time with his loved ones. For Stu, his family included not only his blood relations, but also those people he met along the way who he gathered into his circle and whom he held closely to his heart. 

    Stu grew up on Delight Valley School Road in Cottage Grove, Oregon. His father Wes was a Boilermaker and his mother Mary was a homemaker. Their home was filled with family, especially Mary’s sister Agnes's crew and Wesley’s sister Esther and her family. His father’s sisters Marie and Phyllis and his grandmother Mabel were also integral to his upbringing. His childhood was punctuated by visits with the many branches of his mother’s Minnesota family, all of whom Stu had the fondest of memories.   As the eldest of six, Stu was a huge part of his siblings’ lives.  Stu’s first job was at an early age, picking beans in the fields at the end of the road. He loved to remind his children of this when they complained about hauling wood or doing chores. Stu was a hard worker, but he also played hard and was involved in a lot of shenanigans in his teens with his friends, including Tom Edwards, the Bailey Boys, and Dave Buffington, as well as cousin Paul Keating. He graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1973, which he always claimed was pretty lucky, since he preferred playing  hooky to schoolwork. 

    After high school, Stu went to work in the woods with friend Tom Edwards, who later introduced him to his cousin Debbie. According to Debbie, their first date was a disaster, as Stu led her to believe that he disliked children and animals. She was not impressed. Stu, however, was smitten, and called to apologize, and to clarify that he did, in fact, love kids and animals. Their relationship was sealed when Stuart was injured on the job and Debbie helped, “nurse him back to health.”  Stuart and Debbie were wed on March 20th 1976 at Sacred Heart Church in Klamath Falls, Oregon. He was “sick” on the day of the wedding--whether that was just from a cold or a little too much bourbon the night before, we will never know. Debbie and Stu moved into a tiny trailer on Buck Creek and quickly added dog Sarah, and Sam the bummer lamb to their menagerie. Stu moved on from logging, and followed in his father’s footsteps, became a Boilermaker. By the time daughter Andrea was born in November of 1977, they were living in a trailer park in Saginaw, Oregon. Stu worked out of town often and Debbie stayed at home with Andrea. Eventually they moved to a home in Creswell, and son Matthew was born in March of 1980. They moved between there and Yoncalla to care for Debbie’s grandmother, Flora, which they did until her passing. In 1982, the family moved to “God’s Country,” so that Stu could attend OIT where he graduated as a Manufacturing Engineer in 1987. Stu wore many hats during this time; he was a student, janitor and counselor at Klamath Lake County Youth Ranch. Time was limited and money was tight, but Andrea and Matt never noticed as he and Debbie made raising their children and bettering themselves a top priority. 

    After he graduated in 1987, the family relocated to Auburn, Washington and Stu worked for Boeing in “the black hole.” Andrea was in 7th grade and Matt in 5th. Debbie remained in Oregon for 6 months to complete her teaching degree from Southern Oregon University before joining the family in Washington full-time. The hustle and bustle, rain, and lifestyle didn’t suit Stu and Debbie, so they sold their home in Auburn and moved back to Bonanza in 1989. Both Stu and Debbie returned to work at KLCYR, where Debbie would eventually become a teacher and Stu garnered the skills that led him to find his ultimate career with the Oregon Youth Authority. Stu continued working at OYA until retiring as a supervisor in 2020. He made many wonderful friends during his time working for the state. He was well-respected and admired for his work ethic and the time and care he gave each and every person who crossed his path. 

    Proud as he was of his work accomplishments, Stu looked forward to retirement so that he could continue doing the things he loved most: spending time with his children and grandchildren, being with family and friends, and being outside hunting, fishing, and camping. Covid put a damper on his retirement travel plans, and sadly, he didn’t make it to Wales to visit his “twin”  brother Morris and his beautiful bride Elsie one last time. He did enjoy having his nephew Kory as his roommate for some time~ they were great fishing buddies. He also loved his monthly visits with Brenda at Lake of the Woods and BS-ing with other former co-workers on the phone. He had morning text rituals with many people, including his sisters and “Fast Eddy.”  Stu and his friend Jerry enjoyed quick trips to California to restock their liquor cabinets~ they also took turns cooking fish whenever Jerry’s wife Rosemary was out of town. Stu had a blast on his last big roadtrip with his brother-in-law LL and sister Gretchen and had plans to go sunstone hunting again with Jeff, Andrea and the kids this spring. He hoped to have more Winchester Bay adventures with brother Brian and cousin Paul that didn’t end up with a trip to the Bay Area Hospital.  Stu looked forward to giving everyone rides in his boat at Diamond Lake once more this summer and to spending time at “the property” when building was completed. Sadly, Stu’s adventures have been cut short. Those of us who knew and loved him will continue to honor his memory in the stories we tell, the card games we play, and the adventures we have. That is what he would want. Stuart was a great man, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend and his loss is felt by many. 

A celebration of life for both him and Debbie will follow at a later date.