Steven Wayne Hanson, beloved husband, father and grandfather, died peacefully at St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington, Nov. 13, 2020, at the age of 74.
Steve was born in 1946 in Mt. Vernon, Washington, to Margaret and Clarence Hanson. His parents were dairy farmers in the Skagit Valley and hard work was something he knew his entire life. At the age of 13, he bought his first car, a 1932 Chevrolet sedan with “push-and-pray brakes.” His love of vintage cars never stopped.
He met his wife, Mary Anne, at the local drive up when she asked if she could drive his Corvette. He always thought it was funny because she had no idea how to drive at the time. He married his high school sweetheart in July 1966. His first job out of high school was a drafter for the local PUD department but his love of cars steered him away from his drafting career. Shortly after working at the PUD, he started selling cars at McDowell Volkswagen and then moved to Oak Harbor where he learned how to run a dealership.
In 1974, at the age of 27, Steve bought Brewington Volkswagen in Olympia. In 1986 Steve moved his dealership from Pacific Avenue to what is now the Olympia Auto Mall where Hanson Motors remains today. In October of 2006, “Mr. H” as many of his employees called him decided it was time to retire. In retirement, he actually was often times more busy than when he was in the store. Steve was very active with his high school class reunions and enjoyed antiquing, collecting Olympia Beer memorabilia, working on his antique cars, attending car shows throughout the Pacific Northwest and fishing.
Steve was preceded in death by his mother and father, brother, and wife and is survived by his son Vincent, daughter-in-law Tammy, and their two children Britania and Ryan as well as his daughter Kimberly, son-in-law Chris, and their two children Anne and Daniel.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that a memorial contribution could be made to his long time car club — the Hoquiam Push Rods so that they can continue their work in helping the community as he so loved to do — Push Rods of Hoquiam, P.O. BOX 572, Hoquiam, WA 98550
