Daniel Wayne Hansen

It is with deep sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Daniel Wayne Hansen on November 15, 2024, at his home in Prince George, BC. He was born on March 8, 1983, in Saint John, New Brunswick, the first child of Ronald Wayne Hansen and Donna Elizabeth (Hayward) Mercer.

Daniel was an unstoppable force from his first breath, he was an extremely active baby and child and a night owl from the very beginning. He was a happy, friendly baby with the chubbiest cheeks. His sister Sara was born when he was two, and after a day of being an older brother, he decided he’d keep her and not send her back to the hospital. They were close from the very beginning, and he missed her so much when he was away from her that he kept a picture of her with him. Dan’s childhood consisted of endless friends, bike rides, listening to oldies on the radio, being a ninja, tree houses, neighbourhood water gun wars and playing outside until he was dirty and the stars were out. Dan was always filled with wonder and amazement at life and was always willing to try something new and be a compassionate friend to everyone.

Daniel’s first love and real passion as a youth was music. He started playing guitar at age 11 and when he got his first guitar at age 13, he never set it down. That red electric guitar was with him everywhere, even the dinner table. Although he never learned to read music, he could play several instruments by ear and remembered friends’ songs over 20 years after learning them. Daniel was a creative and prolific writer. He penned numerous songs and poetry. Daniel connected with many friends, musicians and artists over the years and collaborated on countless projects that became the foundation of a staggering amount of friendships.

Dan attended UNB in Saint John, NB for a year before deciding to go into the arts at New Brunswick College of Craft & Design in Fredericton, NB. Looking for a bigger challenge, Dan transferred to NSCAD in Halifax, NS to pursue photography. During this time, he had the opportunity to travel to Beijing for several weeks and loved every moment of it. Towards the end of his time at NSCAD, he got the chance to do an independent study on Photography in Russia and graduated with a Fine Arts Degree. During these educational pursuits, Dan met Emilie, who would later become his wife and travel to Russia with him; Russia was one of his great adventures.

And so was parenthood. Dan and Emilie welcomed their first child Anouka Dawn Lucille in 2010 in Surrey, BC. He instantly loved being a father. Eventually, they moved up to Mackenzie, BC so he could work at the mill and live a quieter family life closer to his parents, sister and nephew, Eli. They always planned on having more kids and had their second child Chaia Johanne Lucina in 2013 in Prince George, BC. Although the relationship did not work out, from it came the greatest loves of his life and always a point of pride; his daughters.

Throughout the years, he worked many different jobs but always thrived when he was out exploring nature, spending time with his daughters or writing and creating music. Dan got his love of nature from his father through hiking, exploring caves and numerous trips to beaches and lighthouses. Dan was always really close with his family and took the death of his Dad in 2017 pretty hard. He took his final trip to New Brunswick with his sister to pay his respects.

Daniel's life was full of love and many meaningful relationships; he could never resist a pretty girl and if their conversations flowed he was hooked. Over the last several years he and his girls spent a lot of time with Jacquelyne and her daughter. Although it did not work out in the end, his life was filled with so much love.

Daniel was extremely hopeful when it came to his music. Most recently, he was working on more songs and planning an album that will hopefully be released posthumously. Daniel was far from perfect and had many struggles over the years but through it all, he never lost hope in himself or others. He was a constant source of light that always had a kind word, a great song or a joke for someone who needed it. Dan was a unique soul that walked to the beat of his own drum; a drum beat to a song he had probably written during some random late night.

Daniel was predeceased by his father, Ronald Wayne Hansen, his fraternal grandparents Leo and Grace Hansen, maternal grandparents Charles and Emeline Hayward, honorary brother-in-law David Hargrove, cousin Laurie Hayward, best friend Ryan AuCoin, as well as several aunts and uncles on both sides of the family.

Daniel is survived by his beautiful children Anouka Hansen and Chaia Hansen, his mother, Donna (Hayward) Mercer, his stepfather John Douglas Mercer, step-mother Genie Hansen, his sister Sara (Hansen) McMahan, brother-in-law Bill McMahan, his nephew Elijah Hargrove and step-niece and nephew Myah McMahan and Trayton Mathieson. He is survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins in Saint John, NB, across Canada, and in England. Daniel is also survived by many close friends and his special friend Jacquelyne Hickman, and her daughter Ellieanna Meierhofer.