HANNESON, Kenneth Clayton

At the age of 79 years, after a brief illness, Ken passed away at Peter Lougheed Hospital, Calgary on Friday, May 6, 2022. Kenneth Clayton Hanneson was born on May 17, 1942, the first of four children of Clifford and Bernice (Thomas) Hanneson. Ken grew up on the family farm near Tisdale, Saskatchewan. He attended Eastman School before attaining his grade 12 at the Tisdale High School in 1960. In 1969 he graduated from the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Technology Program at Calgary’s Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). That’s where he met Christine Hembree and on August 16, 1969, they married. Together, they made Calgary their home, where they raised their two sons.

From an early age, Ken was active in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets. Ken’s mom used to say, “he always had his head in the clouds.” Ken achieved his pilot’s license and took every opportunity to fly planes from small to large. Through his successful aviation career, he gained experience from many perspectives, including roles at SPAR Aerospace Ltd., AVMAX, as well as at Transport Canada as a Civil Aviation Safety Inspector. However, Ken was most proud of his time being an instructor at SAIT and later becoming the Department Head of the combined Aeronautical & Mechanical Engineering as well as the Aircraft Maintenance Engineer Technology Programs where he'd initially been a student himself.

Ken’s friends and co-workers remember his cheery nature, smile and laugh, calling him a “good man” and a “great guy.” In his retirement, he enjoyed how Facebook made it easy for him to stay in touch with friends as well as to find and connect with Hanneson family members.

Ken truly loved his family and, above all, being a grandpa. His gentle, loving, caring way formed a deep and special bond.

Ken was much loved and will be dearly missed by his wife, Christine, his sons: Kirk and Clint, all of Calgary; his grandsons, Balin, Regina plus Nicholas and Cody, of Calgary; his sisters, Karen (Ken) Saunderson, of Fort McMurray and Ida-Jean (Jamie) McIntyre, of Victoria. Predeceased by his parents, Clifford & Bernice and his younger brother, Oscar.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ken’s memory to Diabetes Canada or to #624 Tisdale Royal Air Cadet Squadron or the charity of your choice.

At a later date, Ken’s final resting place will be in the Tisdale Cemetery, with his parents, grandparents and younger brother, Oscar.

To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Ken, please visit Choice Memorial Memory Wall.