Obituary of Leland "Lee" Hagen

Leland “Lee” Hagen, age 82, of Wisconsin Rapids, went to be with his Savior on Sunday, June 24, 2018.

A Christian Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids.  Rev. Dr. Carlton Andersen will officiate. Inurnment will take place at Restlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.  A time of visitation for family and friends will take place on Thursday, June 28, 2018, beginning at 9:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the church. Herman-Taylor Funeral Home and Cremation Center is honored to be serving the family at this difficult time.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net.

Lee was born on April 27, 1936, on the farm in the Town of Sigel to Roy and Verna (Steinbach) Hagen along with his twin, Joe.  He grew up helping on the farm before and after school each day, and that love of farming never left him.  He loved going for drives in the country or to Iowa (where he was amazed by the nice, square fields) to look at the crops.

He graduated from Lincoln High School in 1956 and started working at Consolidated Papers immediately after. After working there for 43 years in various areas, Lee retired from the power control plant of the Kraft mill.  He joined the National Guard in 1956, and his 32^nd Infantry Division was deployed to Washington State during the Berlin Crisis.  He was discharged in 1962.

He met Jill Schade at the diner where she waitressed.  They were married on May 6, 1961.  In 1965, they welcomed their daughter Sara.  Four years later, they welcomed their son, David.  The family spent time camping in their early years and later, made many trips to Camp Luther.  Lee loved woodworking and volunteering at church, where he was an elder, an usher and a member of the Veterans of the Cross. He enjoyed every opportunity to share his love of Jesus with all those around him and was a strong witness for Christ.  He was a big fan of the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Badgers.  He could be found most weekends watching football or basketball games on TV.  Once college basketball season was over, he could be found snoozing in front of a golf game, if he wasn’t outside caring for his lawn or garden.

Lee is survived by his loving wife, Jill; daughter, Sara and her husband Kelly Schraeder and their children, Adam and Jack; son, David and his wife Susan SmolikHagen, and their children: Meg, Anna, and Gabe; his siblings: Howard (Janice) Hagen, Mavis Bagby, Joe Hagen and special friend, Donna Rasmussen, Tom (Anne) Hagen, Rollie Hagen, Ron (Laura) Hagen, Virginia (David) Palus, and Mary (Bernie) Halkowski; sister-in-law, Charlotte Hagen; he is further survived by many nieces and nephews. Lee is preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Verna Hagen; his siblings: Shirley (Bob) Krummel and Vernon Hagen; brother-in-law, Robert Bagby; and sister-in-law, Carolyn Hagen.