Wayne Fredrick Hanson

MILWAUKIE — Wayne Fredrick Hanson, 65, formerly of Prineville, died May 19 at his home in Milwaukie. A funeral service was held May 31 at the Eastside Church in Prineville. Hanson was born Aug. 8, 1950, in John Day, to Fred and June (Best) Hanson. He attended schools in Long Creek, Prineville and Mitchell, where he lived with his parents who were cattle ranchers. In 1968, he graduated high school in Mitchell.

In 1969, he married Darlene O’Neal in Prineville, with whom he had two children, Angela and Troy. Shortly after his marriage, he joined the military and served in army intelligence in the Vietnam War. Upon returning from overseas, the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he worked as a police officer. They moved back to Oregon and lived on the Hanson Ranch in Unity before moving to John Day, where they ranched and he got into the funeral service industry.

He earned a degree in funeral service from Mt. Hood Community College. Upon his graduation, he worked in funeral homes in Hillsboro, Salem and Portland.

Taking a hiatus from funeral service, in 1981 he purchased an Arctic Circle restaurant in Hillsboro. In 1987, he bought the Arctic Circle restaurant in Prineville.

In 1986, he married his second wife, Brenda Sherbahn, of Hillsboro, with whom he had two children, Tristan and Ashlyn. They lived in Hillsboro until they bought the Arctic Circle in Prineville.

He realized his lifetime dream of owning his own funeral home, and opened Whispering Pines Funeral Home in Prineville in 1998. After his retirement in 2013, his oldest son, Troy, purchased and is currently operating Whispering Pines.

Being active in the Prineville community was important to him, and he had many affiliations and memberships. He was a lifetime member of the Elks and was the proud recipient of the Crook County small business award for both his restaurant and funeral home. He served for many years with the chamber of commerce and was a proud sponsor of the Crooked River Roundup.

He also volunteered with the Rotary organization and worked with the hospice board on their annual Christmas tree auction. Every year he looked forward to cooking at the annual Fourth of July community breakfast and he was a staunch supporter of the Crook County Christian School (High Desert Christian Academy). He attended the Eastside Church in Prineville.

He loved traveling and spending time with his family, which he did as often as his schedule would allow.

Survivors include his father, Fred Hanson of Prineville; daughter, Angie (Cal) Lucas of Milwaukie; son, Troy (Windy) Hanson of Baker City and Prineville; daughter, Ashlyn (Joel) Donahue of Vancouver, Washington; son, Tristan (Kimberly) Hanson of Forest Grove; sisters, Marla (Bill) Nash of Beaverton and Sue (Don) Page of Prineville; brother, Jeff (Brenda) Hanson of Buhl, Idaho; five grandchildren, Haley, Travis, Olivia, Hayden and Sofia.

He was preceded in death by his mother, June Hanson, and his grandmother, Hattie Williams.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Prineville Chamber of Commerce in care of Whispering Pines Funeral Home 3168 NE Third St., Prineville, OR 97754.

For condolences, visit: www.whisperingpinesfh.com.