LaRue Jacqueline Hagen

Monday, May 14, 2018 2:37 pm

LaRue Jacqueline Hagen, 84, of Decorah, passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at Barthell Order of Eastern Star nursing home in Decorah. Memorial services were at 11 a.m. Friday, May 11, at Decorah Lutheran Church, with Rev. Dave Sorenson and Rev. Brenda Crossfield officiating. Burial will be in Oak Lawn Cemetery in Cresco, at a later date. Visitation began at 10 a.m. Friday, one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at fjelstul.com.

LaRue will be remembered for her faith in God, love of family, baking, gardening, and cheerful service to others. She was born to Jacob and Anna (Hegtvedt) Lee Aug. 21, 1933, in Decorah. She was the youngest of three children. She was baptized Lutheran and confirmed at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. LaRue attended a one-room schoolhouse in rural Decorah and graduated from Decorah High School with the Class of 1951.

During WWII she bought war bond stamps with the money she earned. She was active in 4-H and earned a trip to State Fair. While in high school she worked at Wilson Lang’s Jewelry store.

She married Dean Hagen Sept. 20, 1952, at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. Their first home was up the hill from Dean’s parents, Adolph and Myrtle Hagen. After Dean’s military service, they returned to Iowa, settling in Cresco near LaRue’s sister, Gloria, and her parents. There they raised their four children.
LaRue began baking in her mother’s kitchen where the two of them cooked.

LaRue learned the value of friendships created through the hospitality of coffee with a plate of cookies or pie. In 1968, LaRue started her baking career, working for the Howard-Winneshiek School District. She began the bakery at Luther College in 1982 and worked there until her retirement.

As a wife and mother, she always put the welfare of family first. She always made sure there were canned goods in the pantry, cookies in the freezer and food on the table. Many visitors left with a can or plateful of LaRue’s special chocolate chip cookies. She enjoyed a good game of Bridge, Gin Rummy or Euchre. She also enjoyed gardening and arranging flowers.

She was actively involved in Women’s Circle and Bible study at Decorah Lutheran Church, and the Decorah Town and Country Garden Club. She also baked pies and angel food cakes for funerals. Devotions and prayer were a daily occurrence in Dean and LaRue’s lives together.

LaRue is survived by her husband Dean and their children: Rick (Sandy) Hagen of Cresco, Georgiann Hagen of Boone, and David (Jussara) Hagen of Cedar Rapids, son-in-law Wes Brinkmann of Cresco; 10 grandchildren: Nora (Dave) Harer of Manterville; Jonathan Brinkmann of Monterey, Calif.; Jarred Brinkmann(Veronica) of Ames; Jacob (Rand) Hagen of Seattle, Wash.; Ryan (Kelsey) Hagen of Cedar Falls; Natalia, Asle, Carl and Kjirsti Hagen of Cedar Rapids; seven great-grandchildren: CeCe, Eli and Grace Harer; Diego and Alma Garcia; Ana Carolina Brinkmann-Martin; and Caleb Buchheit; and two siblings, Gloria Larson of Cresco and Keith (Gertrude) Lee of Wadena.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Connie Brinkmann, Aug. 9, 2001; grandson, Nicholas Hagen, May 25, 2010; parents: Jacob G. and Anna J. Lee; grandparents: Knudt A and Kjirsti Lee, and John and Mathilda Hegtvedt; brothers-in-law David Lillegraven, Don Aspenson and Wally Larson.