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Nov 1, 2002 12:00 PM

Henry “Hank” Jansen, patriarch of the Lynden family of companies, died Sept 29, 2002, at his home near Lynden WA. He was 84. Jansen began his career as a truck driver in Lynden. In the late 1940s, Jansen purchased Lynden Transfer, the common carrier he worked for, and eventually bought two other small carriers, combining them into the company.

The company expanded into Alaska in 1954, when Lynden launched the first scheduled highway service to carry fresh meat and produce there.

Today, the enterprise Jansen started is a multimodal transportation enterprise and one of Alaska's largest based businesses. Jansen's eldest son, Jim, heads the company as president and chief executive officer of Lynden Inc.

On his 83rd birthday, the City of Lynden and Whatcom County declared Aug 7, 2001, as Henry “Hank” Jansen Day.

His role as an outstanding business leader was recognized in 2001, when he was inducted into The Junior Achievement Puget Sound Business Hall of Fame in Seattle.

Besides his son, Jim, of Anchorage, Jansen is survived by sons Vic of Beverly WA and Guy of Blaine WA; daughters Heidi Doornenbal, Bellingham WA, and Pauli Hall, Homer AK; three sisters; and three brothers. Memorial services were held October 2 in the Henry Jansen Agricultural Center in Lynden.