Tuesday, April 28, 2020 2:40 pm
Alfred (Al) Andrew Hageman, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020, in Oro Valley, Ariz., due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. Memorial Services had been planned by his siblings in the Calmar area for the week of his birthday, but have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
Al was born April 28, 1942, to Ignatius and Elizabeth (Kuennen) Hageman of Calmar/Fort Atkinson rural area. Al was one of nine brothers and sisters. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, attended St. Aloysius School and graduated from South Winneshiek High School, Class of 1960. During his teen years, Al was involved in 4-H and FFA, achieving the Iowa FFA Farmers Degree. After graduating from Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, he joined Collins Radio (Collins Aerospace) as a radio engineer. In the early 1970s, he joined Iowa Electric Light & Power (Alliant Energy) and worked with Bechtel Engineering on the construction of the Duane Arnold Energy Center nuclear power plant in Palo. He stayed on after completion of the power plant to work as a quality control engineer, retiring after 35-plus years of service.
In addition, he spent several years as the assistant business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 205 negotiating several successful collective bargaining agreements and working as a staunch advocate for union members. For over 10 years he served on United Way allocations panel. He also served on the board of directors for the Light Company Employees Credit Union and was a lifelong supporter of the Democratic Party, working as precinct chairperson and caucus member at the Democratic National Convention.
When he was younger, Al’s interest was in all things in motion. He loved cars, motorcycles, powerboating and sailing — interests he taught and passed on to his two sons. He also developed a passion for photography and travel; and, after extensive trips — through Greece, South and Central America — he discovered his favorite destination of Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, where he spent countless holidays with his family.
After retirement, Al was focused on time spent with his wife of 53 years, Louise, two adult children and two grandchildren in Cedar Rapids and San Francisco/Chapel Hill. He could always be found around their homes working on improvement projects or yard work. Al was only 41 years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. So with the progression of the disease and a hip replacement in his 70s, he had to curtail his physical activity but still kept himself busy with computers, genealogy research and photography. Most recently, he was a regular attendee of afternoon bingo, blackjack and euchre at his retirement community, and never missed ice cream and a movie night, attending more for the ice cream than the movie.
Al is survived by his brother, LaVerne (Alice) Hageman, Fort Atkinson; and five sisters: Bernice Hackman, West Union; Dorothy (Elmer) Schmitt, Fort Atkinson; Mary (Melvin) Rausch, Fort Atkinson; Theresa (Bob) Cunitz, Norwalk, Wis.; Alma Meyer, Marion; sister-in-law, Joan Schissel, Decorah; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, Ignatius and Elizabeth Hageman; brothers, Urban Hageman and Leon Hageman; brothers-in-law: Alvin Hackman, Lee Schissel, and Peter K. Meyer; sister-in-law, Jean Hageman; niece, Lori Milbrandt, and nephews, Don Hackman and Craig Brandt.
Memorial donations in Al’s name may be made to the Michael J. Fox Center for Parkinson’s Disease Research: michaeljfox.org/donate.
Submit A Comment
Fill out the form to submit a comment. All comments require approval by our staff before it is displayed on the website.