April 19, 1938 - October 8, 2023
In loving memory ~
It is with broken hearts that we say goodbye to our father, Michael Francis Hanlon...Dad...Grandpa. Mike was born in Torquay England on April 19, 1938, to parents Frank and Winn, and passed into the arms of Jesus on October 8, 2023. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Wendy, sons Ted (Laurie, Wendy) and Gerry (Michelle, Matt, Jem), and daughter Amy (Pius). As a young lad, he loved exploring and bird nesting in the rolling fields and hedgerows of England's south country. Mike and his parents then immigrated to Victoria in 1954, where he spent his last years of school at Vic High. His parents returned home in '58 but Dad stayed; he loved it here in Canada!
He quickly got his feet wet in the working world, hiring on with the construction of the Strathcona Dam surveying roads in the BC's interior, and then the Hudson's Bay in the Men's Wear dept. in Victoria where he met Wendy Williams in 1958. He was immediately drawn to this spunky girl with her beautiful eyes and bubbly spirit. Four years later, Mike and Wendy married and Mike was working for the BC Forest Products Sawmill on Gorge Rd and volunteering with the Langford Fire Dept. Soon the family grew with Ted and Gerry and then finally a daughter Amy. In '66 Mike got a job with BC Corrections at the Wilkinson Rd jail. Five years later, Mike and his family relocated up the island to Campbell River to work as a CO in the Forest Camps of Lakeview and Snowden. He made lifelong friends with those he worked with here (Ken Rawlings, Vic Stasiuk, John Taylor) This small town became home for Mike and Wendy for the remainder of Dad's years. In 1973 he left BC Corrections when Snowden was shut, taking a sales position with Cantins Moving, followed by Crane Plumbing, finally returning to BC Corrections at Lakeview in '86 until his retirement in '98. It was now with Juveniles. He had a heart for loving and working with the kids!
Mike loved beach combing, camping (we camped all over the island) and fishing, with many an outing on the Argonaut and up the Quinsam. He had a zeal for life and people, a colourful sense of humour and loved to tell stories... often more than once! Most cherished will be his legacy as a wonderful father and devoted husband...always encouraging and connecting with family and good friends. While he had his moments of piss and vinegar, he was truly an authentic man of warmth and inspiration. He had a sixth sense for anyone who needed a lift-up. We took note of this lesson!
However, when he was 64 this was all put to the test when he had a tumour on his spine removed, and he lost the use of his legs. But his love for life and his sense of humour never left him. You rarely heard him complain. The care he received from Mum and his Home Support team from 2002 until his passing was amazing. These lovely people gave him and Mum, the encouragement to carry on with life the best they could. He had many care givers over the 20 years but one who was there for it all was Melanie. We thank you Mel for all your loving care. You were a blessing! Thanks also to Serge, Rose, Louis, Christie and many others who came into the house daily to care for Dad and help Mum.
Thank you to their wonderful church family at Willow Point Presbyterian, and Rev John Green and wife Shari, who were so amazing, blessing them in so many ways. And the many wonderful friends who came and went in their patio home complex; this was truly a loving and wonderful group to Mum and Dad. And also thanks to driver Ben and others on the Handi dart.
Finally, Dad loved classic movies, especially The Christmas Carole when Tiny Tim said "May God bless Us, Everyone". Well Dad you did just that with a smile and a hug and we were all the better for it!
You are and will be missed by many but especially by us your family. So Daddy-O, we love you and know you are standing tall and watching over us from heaven. And we hear you whisper to us once again, "you bet your sweet bippy I am".
Left to cherish his memories are his loving wife Wendy, and children Ted, Ger, and Amy and their families.