CHARLES (CHUCK) KENDALL HANSON

Charles (Chuck) Kendall Hanson, 80, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015 at Rainycrest Long-Term Care in Fort Frances, Ont.
Born Jan. 2, 1935 in Fort Frances, he was the son of the late C. Kendall and Ellen Hanson (nee Mikkelson).
An avid outdoorsman, Chuck grew up between his parents’ tourist camps on Lake of the Woods and Crow Lake in Nestor Falls, Ont. He began guiding for the camps in his teens, fishing on many local area lakes and hunting for many varieties of large and small game.
He spent many summers guiding out of outpost camps—sometimes unsure of when his dad would stop sending new groups in with the plane each week and he could catch that return trip home.
Chuck met his late wife, Merla (nee Whalen), when they were working in Atikokan, Ont. and they were married on Nov 17, 1956. Together, they took over Hanson’s King Island Lodge from his parents and ran it together until Merla’s passing in 1991.
Together, they had two children: son, Randy, and daughter, Donna, whom they groomed to also live and work in the family business.
Chuck met many lifelong friends at King Island, many of whom he and Merla would travel to visit during the winter months. Chuck also was an advocate for the tourism industry in Northwestern Ontario, active for many years with the Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters and Northwestern Ontario Tourism Association.
Upon retirement, Chuck settled with his second love, Gladys Jolicouer, in Stratton, Ont.
His favourite activities in his retirement years included casino trips to Warroad, cooking at the Moose Club in Baudette with Gladys, and beating just about anyone who visited him at their house at a game of Cribbage.
Chuck was predeceased by his parents, Ken and Ellen Hanson; wife, Merla Hanson; and grandson, Devin Allison.
Chuck is survived by his longtime partner, Gladys Jolicouer; son, Randy Hanson (Maureen); daughter, Donna Hanson (Dale LaBelle); and grandchildren, Kiley Hanson (Derek Shebagegit), Steve Hanson (Lauren Krukoski), Marty Hanson (Jocelynn Theriault), and Nadia Allison (Adrian Richards).
Also surviving are his sister, Trudy Cooper; Gladys’ children, Carol Jolicouer (Bill), Mary (Don) Brown, Kathy (Brian) Hall, Rose (Terry) Pollard, Gary (Colleen) Jolicouer, Keith Jolicouer (Ann), and Roy (Jody) Jolicouer; nephews, Chuck Scott (Kelly), Doug Scott (Mary), and Eric Scott (Arlene); niece, Brenda Scott; sisters-in-law, Carol Whalen and Jonna Whalen; and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren from the Whalen and Jolicouer familes.
A celebration of Chuck’s life will be held Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, 2 p.m. at the Northridge Funeral Home in Emo, Ont.
In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to the Rainycrest Activation program or to the charity of your choice c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com