Charles Everett Hassen was born on July 9, 1934, to Charles Delbert Hassen and Katheryn Hassen in La Porte, Indiana.
In the summer of 1943, the family moved to Arizona and at the age of 10, Hassen discovered the airport in Casa Grande, Arizona. He spent most of his waking hours at school or at the airport in Casa Grande. Last May, he traveled with his sisters to Casa Grande and showed them where the old airport was, and even provided historic photographs to the owner of the Airport Tavern which commemorates the old airport where Hassen was bitten by the flying bug.
The family moved to Oregon in the summer of 1950. As soon as he could talk his father into signing for him in 1951, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served his country in the Korean War. The U.S. Air Force trained him as a jet mechanic. Hassen added further training to become both aircraft mechanic (A&P) and authorized inspector (AI). His particular expertise was with Bell helicopters. He had over 10,000 flight hours, and his log book recorded a flight with Charles Lindbergh. He was also able to build airplanes, especially fabric planes such as Stearman biplanes and had a Stearman shop at Payne Field in Everett, Washington.
Hassen was an adventurer and loved to learn new things. He tried his hand at a number of activities. For a brief time, he was a rodeo clown; he worked with the great Slim Pickens. He loved to sail, was a certified engineer on yachts and received his Captain’s license as well. He and his brother Jack both drove Miss Bardahl, the famous hydroplane. p
Hassen married the love of his life, Darleen, in 1969. They eventually moved to Buckeye, Arizona, where he owned Triple H Aviation. In 1977, Hassen worked in Moab on a seismograph crew and fell in love with the area. He soon moved Darleen and their son, Randy, to Moab where he owned Arrowhead Helicopters and later owned Cattleman’s restaurant and the Sportsman’s Lounge. Hassen worked in the aviation industry in Moab until just a few years ago. Doing jobs for the film industry, Marlboro Adventure Team, search and rescue, U.S. Forest Service and many others.
Hassen was a longtime member of the Veterans of the Foreign Wars of the United States. He served at Presque Isle Air Force Base in Maine and at the Thule Air Base which is the U.S. Air Force’s northernmost base, located 750 miles north of the Arctic Circle on the northwest coast of Greenland.
Hassen was preceded in death by his brothers, Dean and Jack; his parents; his beloved wife, Darleen Hassen; and his stepson, Larry Lance. He is survived by two sisters, Carol Hassen (Robert Fisher) and Judith Hassen (Mike Johnson); two children, Cathy Danielsen and Randy Hassen; plus step-children Terry Lance and Sherry (John) Jackson. Children, step-children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even a great-great-grandchild made the lives of Hassen and his wife full and rewarding.
A graveside service will be held on April 27 at 11 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens. A luncheon and celebration will follow next to Hassen’s home on Tangreen Lane. All friends are welcome.
The family would like express their sincere gratitude to all of the care givers from CNS, both current and in the past, who have so lovingly cared for Hassen, and his wife, Darleen, before him. Your kindness and compassion will not be forgotten. Also, a big thank you to the local veteran’s clinic and the senior services that provided assistance to Hassen.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
