Gerald Haugen

Monday, January 16, 2017 6:00 pm

Gerald Haugen, 87, of Decorah, died Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Services were at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. Dave Sorenson and Rev. Charis Combs-Lay officiating. Organist was Kathy Tollefsrud. Hymns were “Here I am, Lord,” “On Eagle’s Wings” and “Amazing Grace.” Special music was “Go Rest High on that Mountain.” Interment is at Lutheran Cemetery in the spring, in Decorah. Casket bearers were Daniel (DJ) Henry, Wade Casterton, Ryan Jones, Mary Beth Henry, Andrew Vizcaino and Nicci Vizcaino. Military rites were by Decorah Area Veterans, US Navy. Interment is in the spring in the Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah.
Gerald Owen Haugen was born June 8, 1929, the son of Edgar and Lilly (Moe) Haugen in LeRoy, Minn. Gerald was confirmed Oct. 29, 1944, at the Decorah Lutheran Church. He attended Glenwood No. 6 country school and worked for many years at the Ray Sersland farm in Washington Prairie Township. He joined the US Navy in 1950, and served for 31 years. While in the Navy, he was aboard the USS Coral Sea, USS Arikara, USS Vega, USS Joseph Strauss, USS Franklin D. Roosevelt and the USS Saratoga. He served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He retired as Master Chief. He was united in marriage to Darlene Witt Nov. 6, 1952, and had four children: Gary, Mark, Jeffrey and Heidi. They later divorced in 1981. Gerald was married to Theola Bixby Haugen Dec. 3, 1982, at the Decorah Lutheran Church. Together they ran the Hotel Winneshiek Apartments, retiring in 1997. Gerald enjoyed grilling and cooking for all, he was an avid Hawkeye and Minnesota Viking fan, and enjoyed working in the yard taking care of the garden and flower beds. Gerald was a member of the Decorah Lutheran Church and the Helof Holm VFW Chapter No. 1977.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Theola Haugen, Decorah; one daughter, Heidi (Bo) Vizcaino, Big Spring, Texas; three sons: Mark (Edna) Haugen, Orange Park, Fla.; Gary (Wanda) Haugen, Miami, Fla.; and Jeff (Elizabeth) Haugen, Jacksonville, Fla.; two step-daughters, Terry (friend, Carl Naley) Casterton, Decorah and Karen (Dan) Henry, Ridgeway. Gerald also is survived by 17 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Orville Kenneth (friend, Patsy) Haugen, Dubuque Dale (Dawn) Haugen, Auburndale, Fla. and Roy (Sherrie) Haugen, Martin, Tenn.; one sister-in-law, Margaret Haugen, Charlottesville, Va.; along with many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews; Theola’s siblings: Jessie (friend, Manny) Foix, Grand Rapids, Minn., Carolyn (friend, Dave) Tryczynski, West Chicago, Ill., Marie (Curtis) Dahlager, Minneapolis, Minn. and Norman (Kathryn) Bixby, Littleton, Colo.

Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar Oscar and Lilly Amanda (Moe) Haugen; siblings: Roger Haugen, Raymond Haugen, Curtis Haugen, Harlan “Ron” (Shirley) Haugen, Clayton (Dianna) Haugen and Delores Haugen; step-daughter, Pamela Haugen; grandson, Michael Schroeder; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Percy and Loretta Bixby.