Arne Vevle Hansen

Arne Hansen passed away peacefully at his home in Port Townsend on August 15, after a brief illness and many years of living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Born in Kopervik, Norway, in 1940, he immigrated to the United States with his family in 1952. They settled first in New York City before eventually making their way to Seattle, where he attended Ballard High School and later graduated from the University of Washington.

A proud public school teacher, Arne spent most of his career on Whidbey Island, teaching fifth grade at Oak Harbor Elementary School. He loved teaching and was a lifelong learner and voracious reader, with a deep and genuine curiosity about the world and the people around him. Even as his memories faded and it became harder for him to hold on to his thoughts, that curiosity remained. He always wanted to know more about the people he met. He also loved music and dancing, singing along to Willie Nelson and other favorites until the end.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ingeborg and Kristian Hansen; his sisters, Elsa, Kari, and Randi; and his first wife, Nancy.

He is survived by Nora, his beloved wife of more than 30 years who he spent many happy years with enjoying the great outdoors and their friends and community in Port Townsend. He is also survived by daughters, Heather Hansen and Dawn Nelson and grand-dog Buddy Hansen. His family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful caregivers who cared for Arne with kindness and compassion during his final years. He was a good man and will be deeply missed