Charles “Chuck” Hannan
Charles “Chuck” Hannan, beloved husband, father, grandfather and former high school history teacher died Sept. 2nd, 2014 in Kirkland, Wash.
Chuck was born July 10, 1933 to Charles and Cecelia Hannan in Houston, Texas and was the third born of 10 brothers and sisters who he helped support. He served his country during the Korean War with the Air Force before starting a teaching career in Austin, Texas.
Shortly thereafter, he met Myrna Ziter in Killeen, Texas and the two were married. During their 49 years of marriage they welcomed three children into the world: Michael, Nora and Mary.
Chuck graduated from the University of Portland and earned a Master’s Degree from Portland State, which helped him pursue his passion for teaching young people. His career led him to teaching assignments in Texas, Vermont and Oregon, before settling in White Salmon, Wash. where he built a picturesque home overlooking Mt. Hood. A firm, but fair teacher, he was loved and respected by those at Columbia High School in White Salmon.
Chuck was a devoted fan of the Seattle Mariners and they brought him much joy. His love of history, art, music and micro-brews were matched only by his love for his family and friends.
Preceded in death by his parents, brother Michael and sisters Theresa and Ruth. He is survived by wife Myrna of Bothell, Wash.; son Mike (Ann, Will, Lucas and Matthew) of Portland, Ore.; daughters Nora Starosky (Michael and Jillian) of Kenmore, Wash. and Mary Engel (Dan, Nicholas and Lily) of Everett, Wash. and his six brothers and sisters Pat, Frances, Tim, Mary, Dan and Bill. Known to his six grandchildren as “Papa,” Chuck made it a habit to hand out five dollar bills to the kids when he visited.
A memorial service will be 9 a.m., Sept. 15, 2014 at St. Jude Catholic Church in Redmond, Wash. The internment will immediately follow at Mt. Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, Wash. at one o’clock. In lieu of flowers, the family would request that donations be made to Lily’s Foundation, a non-profit organization named after his granddaughter, which is dedicated to autism awareness and research. Donations can be made at www.lilysfoundation.org.
As a life-long believer in the Catholic faith, three words can describe a life-well lived: Faith, Love, and Family.
2 Responses to “Charles “Chuck” Hannan”
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Miss you dad more than words can say. Wish we could have one of our old conversations over beers. Life on earth is just a blip on the radar. We will be together again.
Hello Myrna, I was looking on the Internet to find Chuck as I had a question about the time we stopped in Las Cruces to go see the Butterfield Coach station. We were on the way back from Christmas break from our work in the missions at Dolores and Cristo Rey in December 1962. I am so saddened to learn of Chuck’s passing.
I remember both of you so well and your engagement while we were in Austin, TX at Dolores and Cristo Rey parishes. I was the only nurse among about 75 teachers. I remember Chuck’s love of history and enjoyed listening to his accounts of historical events along our route as we drove back to Austin from Portland where he lived.
I remember so well Frs. Fred Underwood, Victor Goetz and Frank Briganti. I communicate periodically with Frank Briganti who left the priesthood and married an ex-nun. He still lives in Austin. Frank does private counseling.
I also remember you very well, beautiful young woman that you were. Frank filled me in on who has died, who stayed on until death, marriages and illnesses. I lost 30 pounds while at Cristo Rey and was finally so sick from the heat I had to go back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
There was a documentary on the Butterfield Coach Trail this evening on television that brought back my memory of when Chuck took us to the Butterfield Station in Las Cruces. I looked on the Internet for the station but couldn’t find it so I was going to ask him about it.
We, and I don’t recall how many of us were traveling together but I think four of us, drove to the station gate outside the town, Chuck knew exactly where it was. The gate was closed so Chuck got out to open the gate when a man came out of one of the buildings at a distance away, probably about 300 yards, with a lantern held high in one hand and a shotgun in the other. It was dusk. I can still see the entire scene in my mind. It was, and still in my memory is, an awesome scene. We turned around and made fast tracks back to the highway out of town. Chuck told us the buildings were named after Shakespeare plays. I recall only one street with the dark, weathered wooden buildings lining the street.
My deepest sympathy to you, Myrna, and your entire family. Chuck was such a wonderful man.
Gerene Matheson Schmidt