Henry “Hank” Hansen, 86, died at his home March 3, 2005, of complications from diabetes, surrounded by his family.

Hank Hansen was born on the homestead of Otto and Mary Hansen near Winner, S.D., April 9, 1918. The family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and after high school, Hank graduated from York College in Nebraska. He mete Doris Landon there and they were married in 1942.

During World War II, Hank flew fighter reconnaissance in P-51 Mustangs over France and Germany. He completed 75 combat missions and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Bronze Star.

After the war, he earned a master’s degree in science from Iowa State University and briefly taught at Washington State University. In 1948, Hank was hired as a biologist for Washington State Department of Game and Fish.

The family moved to Alaska in 1955 where Hank become the first waterfowl biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska. Hank developed a program for monitoring waterfowl populations by aerial survey in Alaska, the same system that is used today. He did pioneering work on several species of geese, swans and ducks, authored dozens of technical papers and popular articles, and received a meritorious service and numerous other awards. Hank is still remembered by his peers as an expert on Alaskan waterfowl and no finer person to have shared a camp with.

Hank went to Washington, D.C., in 1966 as a Deputy and then Branch Chief and later returned to Alaska as Deputy Regional Director. His last assignment was in Hawaii as Area Director for the Pacific Trust Territories and Hawaii. He retired to Whidbey Island in 1979 after 34 years of distinguished state, military and federal service.

Hank loved the outdoors and nature. Among his many other interests, he was an avid hunter and fisherman, a sports fan and he read widely, golfed, played a keen game of bridge and loved to garden. He was a member of Whidbey Presbyterian Church.

Hank is survived by Doris, his wife of 62 years; son Eric and wife Jeanne of Juneau, Alaska, and Port Ludlow; daughter Linda Atwood and husband Gary of Woodinville; daughter Karen Timm and husband Dann of North Platte, Neb.; granddaughter Heidi Hansen of Washington, D.C.; brothers Walt, Otto and Bill and sister Louise. His parents, a brother and a sister preceded him in death.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Nature Conservancy, the American Diabetes Association or a charity of choice.