Long time Oak Harbor teacher Maxine Elizabeth (Wade) Hansen passed away peacefully on Nov. 12. Maxine Elizabeth Wade was born Sept. 6, 1914 in Oak Harbor to parents Earl Egbert Wade and Hannah Louise (Anderson) Wade, both originally from Iowa.
Maxine was the third of five children that included siblings Dell Marie Wade Bryson (1904-1984), Francis Pearle Wade Billesbach (1907-1982), Patricia Eleanor Wade Dann (1917-2000) and Donald Earl Wade (1919-1992).
Maxine graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1932 and graduated from Bellingham Normal School, now Western Washington University, in 1936.
She began her teaching career in a one-room schoolhouse in Bow, Wash. She followed the next year teaching at Sedro Woolley Central Elementary School through 1941. She resumed teaching by being the first kindergarten teacher in Coupeville in the mid-1940s.
Next, she moved onto elementary schools in Oak Harbor, including Oak Harbor Elementary School, Olympic View Elementary (the “Huts”), and Clover Valley Elementary. Maxine retired after an accumulated 32 years plus in 1977.
During the 1940s, she also substituted within the Oak Harbor Senior High School in the English and drama departments.
While in college, she met the love of her life. After a three-year courtship, she married George Richard Hansen (1914-1988) on Dec. 29, 1940 in Oak Harbor at the home of her parents.
They resided in Castle Rock, Wash., while George taught school for one year (1941-1942) before he joined the U.S. Army and deployed to Saipan to serve his country during WWII.
After retirement, Maxine and George enjoyed traveling the United States in their motor home, visiting their children and exploring. Maxine also traveled to Europe with friends to explore England, Germany and surrounding areas.
Maxine and George were blessed with two children: son Chester “Chet” Earl Hansen (OHHS 1969) and daughter Hanna Christine “Chris” Hansen (OHHS 1972).
Chet was the director of music of the Oak Harbor United Methodist Church, retiring in 2016. He currently lives in Oregon. Chris was a forester and photogrammetrist with the Washington Department of Natural Resources, retiring in 2006. She currently lives in California.
Maxine loved water skiing, snow skiing, golf and hiking with her nephews, nieces and grandchildren. Max spent her last seven years in Southern California enjoying the sun and warmth.
She is survived by her son Chet, two grandsons, Seth (Charlene) and Zachary (Stephanie) Hansen of California, and two great-grandchildren; and her daughter Chris, seven (of 11) nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews.
Maxine was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Rebekkah Lodge and Washington Retired Teachers Association. She was a teachers’ teacher. She always remained in contact with her teacher friends and past students. She truly lived a life of significance. She made a difference.
A celebration of life service for Maxine will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 at the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church.
