Willard Owen Leroy Hanson, aged 93, passed away peacefully at the Victoria Hospice on December 17, 2025, after a life well-lived.
Willard was born on a farm near Viscount, Saskatchewan (Sec 36, Tp 34, Rge 27, W2) on Feb 8, 1932, to Emma (Mattson) and Ward Hanson, and lived most of his life around Meacham, Saskatchewan.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years (married in 1957), Virtue (Klukewich), also of Meacham. When asked how they met, she said, “We were from a small town, so everybody knew everybody.”
Willard and Virtue had four children: Douglas (passed away shortly after birth), Cindy Hanson (Doug Racine), Lori Hanson and Yvonne Hanson (Bob Smith); nine grandchildren: Vanya Hanson, Cal Lakevold; Xochitl, Sasha, Xilonen and Silvio Hanson-Pastran; and Nadja, Yolande and Carmin Smith-Hanson; and four great-grandchildren: Njiba, Nico, Rio and Solanna. Predeceased by his parents and his brother, Ardell Hanson, Willard is survived by his sister, Gail Grotkowski (Dennis), and numerous relatives on the Hanson and Mattson sides of the family.
Willard attended York School – a one-room schoolhouse – until grade 8. In 1969 he was certified as a journeyman mechanic. Then, in 1982 he graduated as an adult learner with grade 12 equivalency (GED).
In his younger years, Willard loved to ride horseback (bareback), hunt with hounds and horses, play baseball, and he never missed a good dance! Music, especially polkas, was important to his well-being. He experienced much enjoyment through community dances, the CJWW radio program on Saturday nights called “Old Tyme Dance Party”, and being a DJ at his condo in Kelowna with his wide assortment of CD’s and 8-tracks including Walter Ostanek, Patsy Cline, and the Statler Brothers.
Willard loved telling jokes and good stories. He was renowned for his unique sense of humour, spin on life, and his remarkable memory including meticulous recounts of local and provincial history. Until just days before he passed, he delighted in reciting a list of Saskatchewan community names from A-Z. Reading the Western Producer from cover to cover was also a weekly pastime.
Willard was a hard worker. As a young man, he worked as a hired hand on local farms and on oil rigs in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Immediately following marriage Willard and Virtue built their first house on Jackson Ave in Saskatoon using only hand tools! Then Willard, wanting to return to Meacham, borrowed money, bought a garage where he worked as a mechanic and insurance broker, sold farm equipment (Oliver, later Cockshutt), and became the Chev-Olds dealer. All of that was to lead to his true calling as a farmer, which he started while simultaneously holding jobs as a journeyman mechanic and welder for the Patience Lake Potash Mine and for the Saskatchewan Department of Highways.
In the early 1970’s Willard and Virtue built a house on the Klukewich homestead south of Meacham where they operated a grain farm and raised livestock. Farming had its hardships. Passionate about the plight of farmers, Willard was a vocal member and advocate of the National Farmers’ Union, and did not hesitate to participate in protests such as those from 1971 that challenged Pierre Trudeau’s government and its declining supports for the family farm. Taking his daughters along to such events, assisted in teaching activism to them at an early age.
Willard was a community-minded leader and served for decades as a board member of the Meacham Co-op and the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, as well as being an organizer for the NDP. He also frequently served as a draw master at the Meacham curling rink, and started and coached a baseball team known as the Meacham Broncs. After retirement he served as a volunteer with the Thresherman’s Club at the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon, fixing and running the tractors and equipment during threshing displays.
In the early 90’s and with persuasion from Virtue, they left the prairies for Creston, BC. Here, they started a series of market stands –buying and selling– something Willard loved to do. After a few years, they moved back to Saskatoon and remained there until 2019 when they returned to BC – this time to Kelowna and retirement.
Willard’s passions were many including: playing the card game Kaiser, going for drives in the country, hunting, playing with his grandchildren, drinking whiskey with friends, tinkering in his shop, doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles, eating a good peanut butter sandwich, and watching curling or the Blue Jays on TV. Willard and Virtue travelled extensively; sometimes with family and other times with the Dieno’s or Nimchuk’s.
He was a collector of license plates for a time, but W.O. as he was sometimes called, especially treasured his collection of model antique tractors – holding onto his memories of farming no matter where he lived.
Willard will be fondly missed by family and friends.
The family would like to thank the Victoria Hospice staff and volunteers for their respectful and compassionate care in the final days of Willard’s life.
A memorial service will be held in Saskatchewan at a date TBD in 2026. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Western Development Museum in Saskatoon. https://wdm.ca/get-involved/donate/
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Warren Nimchuk
Our condolences to you Virtue, Cindy , Lori and Yvonne and to your families. I have a sadness and will miss Tex but I’ve found myself with a smirk on my face the last few days remembering his jovial laugh and all the mischief. He was so good at so many things and we always said he had the Midas touch but one of those things was NOT riding motorcycles!! Love you all!
Tim Nimchuk
Sad to hear of Willard’s passing. I have many fond memories of such a unique individual. He always made me smile and treated me like family. He will be truly missed.
Carole Roy
To Cindy and family
Your father was a remarkable man for his engagement in so many activities, including some activism for social justice. You are clearly his daughter! I am very sorry for your loss. While we know that day will come, we do not easily accept the fact that life is finite. Your father lived a full life. Take care of yourself and enjoy your memories.
Denise (Koob) Keehborn
To the Hanson family;
I’d like to express my sympathy to you all. Willard was a unique and entertaining guy who drew in people from everywhere with his magnanimous personality and quick wit. He will be fondly remembered by many.
Karen Kowalenko-Evjen and Gary Evjen
What a wonderful and busy and interesting life your father lived! Now that I’ve read the obituary, it occurs to me that my father probably crossed paths with your father over the years. Here’s to a life well lived! Gary and I extend our heartfelt condolences to you and Doug and all of your family. Vichnaya pamyat.
Ted Czemeres
So sorry to hear of Willard’s passing. A man I looked up to and a man that taught me many things that helped me in my life. My deepest condolences.
Loretta and Ernie Polischuk
Dear Virtue, Cindy, Lori, Yvonne and families,
What a cheerful, life-loving, influential and good guy Willard was! He will truly be missed, but what a blessing and privilege that he was such a wonderful part of so many people’s lives. We send our love and warm thoughts to all of you.
Cristina Soto
What an incredible man ! I wish I had known him as I am sure we would have gotten along famously – and danced the polka together. He surely passed his joie de vivre and commitment to social Justice to his daughters – Yvonne and I are friends from Halifax …
I just had the pleasure and privilege of listening to Walter Ostanek live! In our home town of St Catharines. So I’m sending the joy of that with WO for his journey …
Love from Cristina Soto
Fesseha Abadi Weldemichael
To Cindy and Family,
I was saddened to learn of Willard’s passing and extend my heartfelt sympathy to you all.
His obituary painted a beautiful portrait of a life defined by hard work, deep love for his family, and unwavering commitment to his principles. He was clearly a man of great character, humour, and resilience who made a lasting impact on everyone around him.
May you find peace in the legacy he built and in the countless stories that will keep his memory alive.
With deepest condolences.
Mark Stobbe
My most vivid memory of Willard came about 1985. Lori was going to school at Trent University. Willard outfitted her with this old half ton for the journey. Lori, Diane Reid, and I loaded up the truck and headed east looking kinda like the Clampett family. We got (almost) to Yorkton when the rear axle broke. I was talking to Willard on the phone about next steps – he was SSSSOOOO upset. He felt he had failed his daughter. But we got it fixed in a few hours and were on our way. It was a few years before saw Willard again. The first thing he did was apologize for the damn axle. He was a guy who loved his gals and wanted to do right by the.
Janet & Scott
Dear Virtue, Cindy, Laurie, Yvonne, partners, grandchildren & great grand kids:
We are so very sorry for the loss of your husband/Dad/(Great)Grandpa. He was a larger-than-life presence in all your lives, and will be greatly missed. May the many special memories you have of him hold comfort in the coming days. Love, Janet & Scott
Arlene Jule
Dear Virtue , Cindy, Lori, Yvonne and families… I was saddened to hear of Willard’s passing. He will be missed and and I will always remember his entertaining personality, his love of life and lively expression of it! Wishing all of you the very best as you continue on your journey of life.
Sandra &Bob Savage
Sending our sympathy ❤️‍🩹 to Virtue, Cindy, Lori, Yvonne and families at this sad time. Willard was definitely one of a kind and he will be missed and remembered with a smile as we think of him many times from our years in Meacham. Lots of good times spent over the years! Hold onto all those good memories!
Bob and Sandra Savage