Funeral services for Christopher “Chris” O. Hagen of New Richland, MN, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 5, 2017 at the LeSueur River Lutheran Church in rural New Richland. Visitation will be held from 9 until 11 a.m. at the Church. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Chris died Wednesday morning at Mayo Health Systems, Mankato, MN. He was 85 years of age.
Chris was born January 3, 1932 in Waseca County, MN, the son of Christopher and Sarah (Sunde) Hagen. He graduated from New Richland High School and attended the University of Minnesota St Paul Campus. After attending the university he served in the US Army 98th Batalian from June of 1953 to May of 1955. On May 4, 1957 he was united in marriage to Janet Gronholz in New Ulm, MN.
Chris was a very active member of the LeSueur River Lutheran Church serving as Treasurer and then President of the church board. He also taught Sunday School for many years. He farmed for many years after marriage and then was employed and retired from the Richland Coop Service in New Richland.
Chris was a member of the New Richland Legion and was on the Honor Guard. After the club closed he joined the Waseca American Legion. He was an honorary member of the FFA and was on the board of directors at Mid-State Insurance Group for over 50 years. He also served as president of the Mid-State Board.
In his free time he enjoyed deer hunting, golf, cribbage, pulling pranks and teasing the grandkids. Family and his grandchildren were always first on his list. He loved going to all of their activities.
Chris is survived by his wife Janet of New Richland, children Kristine (Jerome) Bengtson of Kandiyohi, MN, Kurt (Gopher) and Alison Hagen of New Richland, MN, Sarah (Paul) Mattson of Morris, MN. Grandchildren include Angela (Dylan) Kalkbrenner, Lynsey (Joseph) Pierce, Michaela Bengtson, Sam Mattson and Brooke Mattson. Great grandchildren include Ely, Quin and Dazy Kalkbrenner, Kara and Ryson Pierce. There is one sister in law Marlys Johnson of Brooklyn Center, MN, brother and sister in law Roger (Mary) Gronholz of Glencoe, MN, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Odean and Harold (Marlene) Hagen, sister Marion (Gordon) Larson, niece Julie Hagen and nephew Gary Hagen, brother-in-law Jerome Johnson, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Phyllis (Stan) Strohschein.