Paul passed away at RJH after a brief battle with cancer. Writing was his medium of choice and he took enjoyment penning this obituary. Born in Yellowknife and raised in Calgary, Paul was still working on the growing up part with his last breath.
Predeceased by his parents, Walter and Eileen, his brother Bob and a whole lot of friends, Paul leaves to mourn the joy of his life, his family: his four children; Kevin Murray and wife Tracie, Kim Mcleod nee Hansen and husband Danny, Dana Lalonde nee Hansen and husband Clint as well as adopted daughter Arlissa Arts and husband Malcolm Girard-LeBlanc, seven grandchildren; Tiffany Hansen, Jamaina Mcleod, Sara Vanderbasch nee Mcleod, Maggie Lalonde, Quinn Murray, Graeme Lalonde and Nathan Murray, five great grandchildren; Danielle Kelly, Scarlett Vanderbasch, Lochlan Lidgate, Jakobus Vanderbasch and Talon Trace, as well as innumerable friends across the continent; oh, and several ex-wives.
Most of his childhood was spent living in or very near the open country of NE Calgary, which he and his friends wandered with abandon, bows in hand. He contracted most of the childhood diseases, including polio in 1953 which involved a fairly extensive recovery process.
A Little Leaguer as a kid, Paul would go on to play fastball, skydive (34 jumps), mastered skiing (face plant, turn, face plant, turn) and even a bit of tennis and golf, practising the four basic elements: swing, swear, search, repeat. Fish seemed to stop biting whenever Paul was in the boat, so the invitations eventually dried up.
Paul joined the navy the morning of his 17th birthday, spending half of his nine years in submarine service on HMCS Grilse and Rainbow, a stint that became one of his great passions in his later life. He was a volunteer firefighter and ambulance attendant with Langford before his release from the Navy. He drove off-highway logging trucks for a short time after his release before getting on with the Victoria Fire Department where he spent five years, becoming Secretary-Treasurer of IAFF Local 730. He then moved on to the HR/LR business full-time, first with BC Systems Corporation, then a variety of roles and positions on the mainland, including contracts with BC Rehab, Red Cross Blood Services during the transition to Canadian Blood Services and a cherished five-year stint with the manufacturer Teleflex Canada Ltd.
A volunteer throughout his life, Paul served with a wide variety of organizations including, the GV United Way, Victoria YM/YWCA (chair), GV Christmas Bureau (chair), BC Country Music Association, and more recently, the C&CC Gutsy Walk, Tour de Victoria, and Symphony Splash. He spent countless hours with the Submariners Association of Canada executive, for which he was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Rather than a poet, Paul maintained he was a biographer for poems who wanted their story told in the old fashioned, plain-talking, storytelling, end of line rhyming style he called Cappuccino Cowboy Poetry. Some of them were written in lyric format and some of those were turned into songs by music friends.
Paul wanted to ensure that his most sincere appreciation was conveyed to the myriad of Doctors, Nurses and Lab Staff whose compassion was always evident. And to the many, many family and friends who shopped for him and took him to appointments and listened patiently as he went on and on. And, to the countless friends who provided such wonderful support throughout his final waltz around the dance floor. When asked for a summary of his life he responded, “I was blessed”.
A virtual Celebration of Life for Paul was broadcast from McCall Gardens on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at 12:00 pm. A recording of the service can be found below.
Condolences to the family may be offered to the family below. Those wishing to connect with Kim as mentioned in her eulogy can contact Meghan at McCall Gardens for more information.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
27 Responses
A friend forever. Enjoy our many discussions and email conversations. We have many volunteer memories and discussions about firefighting, paramedic and most of all submarines.
Look forward to our next meeting.
A Friend whom I will miss! Thanks, Paul, for being you!!
Paul was one of those very exceptional people whose very presence with us, blessed us. He gave freely of his time, talent, and his treasure, and I am saddened that he wasn’t able to serve one more watch. Eight Bells for a fine individual. My heart is with his family and his many other friends. “He was just an old submariner, but we shall remember him.”
Geri and I extend heartfelt condolences to Paul’s family and friends. We met as neighbours and enjoyed dog walking together. Paul taught us well how to appreciate a quiet, friendly chat, especially when it involved learning from what our pets taught us. Rest In Peace, dear friend.
Geri and Allan Jacques
My sincere condolences to Paul Hansen family and friends. I’m sorry I only had a few FB conversations with him recently. Paul Hansen was a great person with a sense of humor and way with words like no other friend.
I’ve known him for 20 years starting back in his Teleflex days.
We always joked about a trip to Toronto to a conference during winter when out hotel fire alarm went off. He always teased me that I was outside ill-prepared with only a t-shirt. Not a submariner he chided.
I know he touched many people’s lives and made this world and his community a better place. I only wish I had more time with him. May Paul rest in peace. ❤
Paul+Bob were my cousins as their mother was my mothers younger sister and their family would often come up to Edmonton and stay with us when they lived in Calgary. After they moved to the island we mostly only connected by phone although we did on occasion visit with each other from year to year.Paul was kind and visited my Mother when she was in a nursing home in Edmonton for the last 9 years of her life He was very well thought of by her care aid and did not arrive empty handed. I would doubt that Paul ever had an enemy. I am very sad to never have known any of his children well but that may change in the future.
Farewell old shipmate. You had a good run and did
us boatmen proud. Thanks for your splendid service.
We will remember you.
Captain Wilf Lund, Submariner
RIP Paul. I always enjoyed our conversations and your professionalism when you did a job and project. I wish I had known you longer. It was a honour to know you.
A good friend for 3 decades. In the later years we would meet for lunch every few months and chat about life. At some point he would lean over the table and ask, “Why do we do this?”. “Because we make each other laugh,” would be his quick ‘self-reply’. A wordsmith to the end, still finding the humour in life. In short – Paul was Paul. Good-by my friend.
Paul was an exceptional man and the purest of human beings. With a flair for humour and wit he will be sadly missed by many. I spent many hours talking to him and learning snippets of information from him. Tragically he was taken way too soon for many to accept. DBF Paul, rest your oars shipmate. Main Motor telegraph to stop.