Clifford Martin Hanson

It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to Clifford Martin Hanson. Cliff passed away on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at the age of 73 in Claresholm, Alberta, a little town that brought him such happiness.

Cliff was predeceased by his wife Bernice Hanson in 2003; his mother, Christina Clements; his father, Vernon Hanson and many other loved family members. Left to mourn is his companion, Karen Badder and family; his step-daughter, Belinda MacKinnon and family; step-sister, Christine Korosec and family, sister-in-law, Trudy Smith and family; along with many, many cousins and friends who will miss him dearly. Cliff may not have had any children of his own but he was blessed with many who called themselves his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews as they all loved him so much.

Cliff started his working career as a part time music teacher, while he worked on becoming an accountant at the same time. Once he had become an accountant, he heard the call of the trains and jumped on board with Canadian Pacific Railway in 1974. Cliff started in the dispatchers office in Winnipeg as a Train Order Operator with his sights set on eventually becoming a Dispatcher. With enough seniority under his belt he bid on a Dispatchers job that took him back and forth from Winnipeg to Montreal, until finally deciding to take the job in Montreal. It was during his time in Montreal that he reconnected with his High School crush Bernice and brought her out to Montreal and married her on June 4, 1985. In 1996, Cliff was then transferred to Calgary where he stayed until he retired from the railway in 2005. He had 31 years of dedicated service with the railway and then he grabbed a slow train out of Calgary to Claresholm, where he bought a house and enjoyed a new life with his companion Karen and her daughter Kathy Leclair.

The weeks before he left us were all too soon, but he was constantly surrounded by his loving friends and family until the moment he passed. Cliff was a gentle, kind and loving man who will be sadly missed by all who knew him, but he is together again after 12 years with his beloved wife Bernice.

Thank you to all the staff at the South Health Campus Hospital and the Claresholm General Hospital for all the care and kindness that you showed Cliff and his family. You are all amazing individuals who not only excel at what you do but have huge hearts which you allowed us to see.

Cremation has taken place and no service will be held at his request.

“The song is ended, but the melody lingers on”

-Irving Berlin