Rev. Hagen, Frederick H. (88) died June 21st (on the 48th anniversary of his ordination in Geneva, MN) at his home in Burnsville, MN after battling cancer.
Fred was born November 12, 1923 in Toledo, Ohio to Henry and Margaret (Hahn) Hagen. His mother died when he was 9 months old, and at 18 months he was placed in the Lutheran Orphans' Home in Toledo, Ohio (the youngest child ever placed in that orphanage) and lived there until age 18.
After working in the Merchant Marines on the Great Lakes, he entered the US Navy during WWII and served on the USS Missouri. Upon his discharge, he returned to the Orphans' Home to work a variety of jobs including as a boys’ supervisor. It was then that he met his wife, Dorothy Weckwerth (New Richland, MN) who was also working at the orphanage. They were married May 24th, 1950 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in New Richland. Together they raised four children.
He worked at several jobs (Luther Home of Mercy in Williston, OH; Mercantile Grocery in Clarks Grove, MN, and Johnson Laundry in Albert Lea, MN) before deciding to go into the ministry. He graduated from Austin (MN) Junior College (1960) and Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa (1964). He served three parishes in his 25-year career: East Norway Lake Lutheran and First Norway Lake Lutheran Churches near New London, MN for 3 years; Grace Lutheran Church of Elmore, OH and St. Mark's Lutheran Church of Graytown, OH for 10 years; and Bethehem Lutheran near Myrtle, MN and Deer Creek Valley Lutheran for 12 years.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bernard and Mabel Weckwerth; brother-in-law Arnold Hanson; brother-in-law David Ide; and sister-in-law Lois Miller.
Fred is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy and their four children and their families: Daughter Marie Hagen (Northfield, MN); Son Dan Hagen and his wife, Shari (Northfield, MN) and their children: Keith and Summer Hagen & son, Tommy (Minneapolis); Bekki and Andrew Zaffke & son, Hagen (Columbia, MD); Kevin Hagen and fiancee‚ Rachel Kovala (Oakdale, MN); and Betsy Hagen (Northfield, MN); Son John Hagen (Apple Valley, MN); Son Paul Hagen and his wife, Jill (Amherst, NY) and their children: Daniel Hagen (Buffalo, NY); Jacob Hagen, Isaac Hagen, and Hannah Hagen (all of Amherst, NY). He is also survived by sister-in-law Theresa Hanson (Albert Lea, MN); sister-in-law and brother-in-law Leone and Jim Svelmoe (Rochester, MN); brother-in-law Stanley Miller (Owatonna, MN); and by eight nieces and nephews and their families.
Services will be Monday, June 25, 2012. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and Funeral Service at 11 a.m. at St. James Lutheran Church (3640 Williams Ave, Burnsville).
A burial service will be held at Hillcrest Cemetery near Albert Lea, MN at 3:30 p.m. This will be followed by a memorial service at Bethlehem Lutheran Church near Myrtle, MN at 4 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Fred’s eight grandchildren: Keith, Bekki, Kevin, Betsy, Danny, Jacob, Isaac, and Hannah. Honorary pallbearers will be Duane Ernst and Dick Johnson.
Memorials preferred to: LHS Family & Youth, Lutheran Homes Society, 2021 N McCord Rd, Toledo, OH 43615-3030.