Walter Hanson Passes Away

Sad news -- local 2822's longtime treasurer Walter Hanson passed away on the night of Friday December 18th. We're saddened by the loss of our friend and coworker, and our thoughts are with Walter's family during this difficult time.

Becky Frederick posted this about Walter's funeral arrangements: "Walter's review will be at Washburn McCreavy, 1600 Lowry Avenue North in Minneapolis on Tuesday December 22 from 5 PM to 8 PM. His funeral service will be at River of Life Lutheran Church, 2200 Fremont Avenue North in Minneapolis on Wednesday December 23 at 11 AM, with a luncheon following the service. In lieu of flowers, we ask that memorials be sent to River of Life Lutheran Foundation."

In our November newsletter Molly Malecki wrote this article in tribute to Walter after he was hospitalized.

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A New Voice, November 2015 issue

Local Treasurer Walter Hanson Is Hospitalized
Molly Malecki, retiree

Local 2822 is sad to report that, at this writing, our long time treasurer, Walter Hanson, has been hospitalized since September 30th with a serious brain injury. He is receiving excellent care at Fairview University Hospital.

His family has been posting daily updates on his condition on the Caring Bridge Website under “walterrhanson”. The Local leadership has been sending good wishes and prayers for Walter’s recovery and encourage members to do the same.

Apparently, it takes a crisis of this nature for us to step back and reflect on what a person means to us. We tend to take for granted the people we depend on, the people that are always there, the people who always step up to the plate but who never seek recognition. That certainly defines Walter. I feel ashamed that I have not appreciated him more or offered him recognition.

Walter has served on the Local 2822 Executive Board since 1995. That is twenty years—no one else has served that long on the Executive Board. In March of 1999 he was elected treasurer—a very difficult, time consuming position, that almost nobody is willing to take. He has been humorously dubbed “Treasurer for Life”. He has taken the well-being of our treasury very seriously, guarding our spending to be sure expenditures are allowed, being on the budget committee to guide how our funds should be spent and to try to predict our future income. His quick mathematical mind can compute immediately how much would be spent to send x-number of people to a convention versus y-number.

But being Treasurer is not the only way Walter serves this Local. He has served on every Master Negotiating Team and has been involved with the various Action Committees, working to get us good contracts. The attached photo of Walter at the 2005 Opening Negotiations Rally at the Government Center is an example of his enthusiasm. He can always be counted on to help.

Walter also serves this Local as a Steward, since before 1996 (my records don’t go back further). When he puts on his steward hat he is very tenacious in representing our members and gives them his undivided attention. He also is a member of the Meet and Confer Committee of the Service Center.

Walter has always been one of the biggest supporters of the AFSCME Family Picnics, even after the first one, when he blew out the engine of his car hauling loads of ice from Super America to the park. He is always there for set up and any other heavy lifting, including more ice and the snow cone machine from my car. Two years ago he missed the season opener of “Dr. Who” with the new Dr. Who—that was a huge
sacrifice on his part-- to help out at the picnic.

When it comes to phone banking, the union can count on Walter to be there to call on County Commissioner Races and other issues concerning the Local. His general political views do not align with the usual views of Unions. But he is always available for the welfare of the Local. It surely must take a great deal of self-control to listen to the union’s viewpoints, and still remain loyal to the Local.

Walter has our sincere appreciation for all he did for the Union.