Henry Einar ‘Hank’ Thor

Henry Einar ‘Hank’ Thor 94 yrs old

Hank passed away at his home in Leavenworth, WA on Saturday July 27th 2024 after a short battle with an illness.

Born February 1, 1930 outside of Chicago, IL to Einar and Marta Lunden Thor.
After a few years in Chicago and Beverly Hills, CA, the family eventually ended up buying a farm in Lawler, MN in 1936. Hank has many memories from his time on the farm. Some memories were, learning to xc ski, first becoming interested in flying, enjoying a good sauna and helping his parents around the farm. In the summer of 1939, the family was talked into moving back to Sweden to help run his maternal grandfather’s, 1500 acre, farm in Trädet. This was just as WWII began and some of Hank’s earliest memories from this time were having to ration fuel, which meant their only means of transportation were by bike during dry months and by xc ski during the winter months. This lead to ski racing, which he did on most weekends during the winter. After graduating High School in 1946, Hank was 1 of 10 kids given a scholarship to Ålleberg soaring school in Sweden, where he learned to fly gliders. He began college in the fall of 1946 in Sweden, focusing on pre-engineering courses in math & physics. The family decided to head back to the US in the summer of 1948 and Hank was asked to try out for the US XC Ski Team, he declined, deciding to focus on his studies instead. Dad was accepted at Northrop Aeronautical Institute in Hawthorne, CA. After graduating in 1951, Hank was immediately hired by Northrup Aircraft Co. During his time in CA, Hank became an avid sailor, even racing the Transpacific Yacht Race from L.A. to Honolulu in 1959. Later, Hank enrolled at USC and earned a degree in Architecture. Hank settled down in Southern California, working as an architect and raising a family together with his wife Kerstin. Weekends continued to be spent outdoors. After having a small stroke Hank and the family decided to simplify and bought a motel in Wenatchee, WA, in 1976. During his time in Wenatchee, he and some friends started the Bavarian Nordic Club. He also helped resurrect the Glider Club at Pangborn Airport, renaming it the Cascade Soaring Society. He continued to stay competitive in sports, racing in the Vasaloppet, Birkebeiner, Ridge to River and many other local races. In 2000, Leavenworth became his home after his first wife passed away. He designed and built a home up Icicle Rd. for he and his second wife, Judy. You may have seen them over the years riding their bikes through town on their daily 9 mile loop out East Leavenworth Rd.

When you think of Hank, please remember his years as an active man. His time was spent flying, skiing, sailing, biking, fishing, hiking, running, building, fixing, creating and spending time with his friends and family. He was a true ‘jack-of-all-trades’ and a truly fascinating man.

Hank is survived by his wife of 26 years, Judith Moser. He is also survived by his daughters, Kaisa Helena Thor, Wenatchee and Anna Maria Thor (Michael Goldsberry), Lake Bluff, IL as well as his beloved grandchildren Elsa Kerstin and Henrik Thor Goldsberry of Lake Bluff, IL. He was predeceased by his Parents, Einar Isak Thor and Marta Alvida Lunden Thor, as well as his wife of 30 years, Kerstin Ingeborg Johansson Thor.

A celebration of life will be held in Leavenworth 8/8/24
For more information, please reach out to Anna at
flyskisail30@gmail.com