Wayne Brigham Hanson

Wayne Brigham Hanson

Wayne Brigham Hanson passed away peacefully of natural causes at his home December 2nd, 2020, in Willow Alaska.

Wayne was born June 5th, 1934 to Roy David and Johanna Magdalena “Martha” Wolf Hanson.

Wayne served in the United States 93rd Transportation Company as a Radio Operator-Maintainer Specialist. He went to the Technical Institute of Electronics and operated his own repair service in SLC, Utah, before moving to Alaska in 1970. He spent that first year building the family log home in the Meadow Lakes area with his family Kathy, Lori and Lisa. He loved the outdoors and nature and was drawn to the wilderness of Alaska by his brother Melvin. Wayne obtained his Professional Hunting and Fishing Guide License early on along with his Pilots License. Together he and Melvin operated their hunting lodge in the Tangle Lakes area. During the off season Wayne worked Fire Mitigation for the Bureau of Land Management.

Wayne was a craftsman, building several log homes over the years. He was also a talented machinist and was featured in the The Machinist magazine on several tools he designed.

Wayne also enjoyed photography and had some of his work published in National Wildlife magazine.

He was known locally for the slide shows chronicling his hunting and wilderness adventures.

Wayne relocated to Willow in the early 80’s, built another log home, and later remarried to Ann Prichard from Arizona. Wayne was a member of the LDS church, Willow ward.

He is survived by his two daughters, Lori Benner and Lisa Hanson-Purcella, grandson, Ryan Benner, Kathy Hanson (mother of Lori and Lisa), and brother Harold Hanson.

He was preceded in death by his second wife, Ann Prichard. Sisters, Grace, Marlene, and Josephene; and brothers, Melvin and Kenneth.

A celebration of life is planned for sometime in the future.