Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

Harold Hannon has passed peacefully in his sleep while visiting family in Oregon.

He was born in St. Paul, MN to Mike and Edith Hannon, the youngest of 6.

Even as a teenager, Harold was an intrepid traveler - worked as a cook on passenger trains steaming from MN to CA, on ore carriers on the Great Lakes, and was later stationed in Oakland, California after enlisting in the Navy.

He went to Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis and worked at American Hoist and Derrick.

In September of 1955 he married Elaine Catherine Strohmayer whom he met at choir practice. They both had beautiful singing voices; his older kids remember them singing show tunes and dancing around the kitchen together.

ln 1962 the Hannons decided to move to either Alaska or Australia - Alaska won out because there was no ocean voyage involved! They packed up their 4 children and drove until they reached Haines - the end of the road.

Over the years Harold worked every available job in Haines, his longest employment being that with the cannery, for whom he worked over 20 years. His sons remember him getting fishing boats ready all the way back to 1965. From time to time, he would borrow the HPC (Haines Packing Company) van - he told his kids that HPC stood for Hannons' People Company - they believed him!

He was an integral part of the community, he served on the Borough, supervised a trash pick up service, and built dozens of structures in Haines - always with a smile on his face and a helping hand at the ready.

He was a devout Catholic and devoted member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church throughout his years in Haines.

When Harold retired from the Cannery he bought Haines Propane and ran the enterprise with the help of his son Corey for 14 years. During those years he started traveling and delighted in visiting his kids and grandkids. He went "walkabout" in Australia, visited Ireland and got mugged in Tijuana! He summed up his travel experiences this way "l'm never lost, I just take a lot of detours"

For the last 3 years, Hannon lived in Eagle River with daughter Katy and family.

Harold was preceded in death by his son Sean, and is survived by his children Maureen (Rich), Colleen (Colin), Tim (Anna), Erin (]ohn), Kevin (Sherry), Katy (Tony), Brigh (Dana), Corey (Lisa), Megan (Joe), Patrick (Bobbi), Michael and a whole bevy of beloved grand and great grandkids, who will miss his "grandpa jokes".

We'll miss his ready wit and infectious smile, but know he's already found his little spot of sunshine in heaven.

There will be a memorial BBQ at the Letnikof Cannery Pavilion on July 27, 2018. Please join us to share your memories of Harold.