Ronald Hageman

Monday, December 4, 2023 4:41 pm

Ronald Hageman, age 84, of Calmar, passed away on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023, at Ossian Senior Hospice.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 304 South Maryville Street, Calmar, with Rev. Henry Huber presiding.  Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m., on Sunday, Dec. 10, at the Helms Funeral Home, French Chapel, 202 South Washington St., in Calmar, and also after 10 a.m. at the church on Monday.

Born on June 9, 1939, at home in Calmar, Iowa to Ray and Florence Hageman, Ron was the oldest of five children. In his teenage years Ron played a large role at home to his younger siblings, Delbert, Herbert, Roger and Gertie, when his mother fell ill, undertaking daily tasks along with handling the farming responsibilities while his father looked after his mother. Due to the responsibilities at home, they decided he forgo further schooling in ninth grade and focus on farming with his dad.

Ron began farming on his own in 1959 and that same year while dancing at Matter’s Ballroom in Decorah he first met Catherine Flaherty, the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. Always wanting to look respectable and put together, Ron often drove to their dates with his freshly ironed shirt still on a hanger, waiting to put it on until the last minute before picking Cathy up so he would look nice and neat. Ron and Cathy married on October 20, 1959, at Our Lady of Lourdes’s Church and purchased their family farm in rural Calmar in 1961. He began with dairy farming until a fire took the building, then raised and bred beef cattle and pigs along with crop farming. Dad and his 3 brothers, who also each had farms of their own, spent many years sharing equipment and going from one farm to the next to collaborate on their farming tasks.

During his marriage to Cathy, they welcomed four children Rick, Lori, Lisa and Jenny. Ron was a dedicated father working hard to ensure his children were cared for and loved. He enjoyed taking the children for Sunday drives after church. The day often ended in a trip to Mabes for pizza, chicken dinner and a pitcher of pop. Ron was well-known for his dancing skills and his love for Polka music. After many years of caring for livestock, he shifted his focus to just crop farming, a job he was devoted to up until his final year. Ron got to experience a wide variety of farming practices throughout his 65+ year career, starting out farming with horses to finishing with automated equipment.

Along with his farming duties he was a Sales Representative for Swift Feed and, besides his farm, his proudest accomplishment, became a Shareholder and Director of Citizen State Bank located in Postville, Iowa in 1982, which he diligently served for over 16 years. Ron was a member of the St. Aloysius Church in Calmar and served on the church council. He also contributed by digging graves and enjoyed the task of butchering hogs to make sausage for the fall church dinners for many years. He was also a member of the Calmar Golf & Country Club for 40 years.

In his later years he was a loving grandfather to his four grandchildren Justin, Brandon, Rachel and Hanna and great-grandfather to Levi, Will and Ruby. Ron was a present figure in his grandchildren’s lives and invested much loved quality time with them while they were growing up. He enjoyed watching Rachel and Hanna riding and showing horses and was very proud of Justin and Brandon’s academic accomplishments with their Engineering degrees.

Summer of 2022, Ron and Cathy experienced a tornado which took a building and left much damage. Dad was so proud to have a new shed built and the farm looking good again this year. He was also very proud that Rick has continued the crop farming and had the best yields ever this fall.

With his resilient and never dwindling worth ethic, he built everything he had from scratch and created a life that was extremely honorable and admirable. His family and friends were proud to know him and very much respected the kind and hardworking man he was. He dedicated his life to his family, farming and faith and created a legacy of living his life honorably.

Those left to honor his memory include:  his wife, Catherine, son; Rick Hageman, daughters and a son-in-law, Lori (Gregg) Mai, Lisa Reilly, Jennifer Hageman, grandchildren; Justin (Molly) Mai, Brandon (Jackie) Mai, Rachel Reilly and Hanna Reilly. Great-grandchildren: Levi Lanphier, Will and Ruby Mai. Brothers: Delbert (MaryAnn) Hageman, Herb Hageman, Roger (Joyce) Hageman; sister Gertie (Paul) Kuennen; brother-in-law, Robert Flaherty; sister-in-law, Kay Flaherty and many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Florence, nephews Darin Hageman & Gary Hageman, niece; Amy Hageman, sister-in-law; MaryEllen Hageman, in-laws John & Mildred Flaherty, Dorothy & Mike Poshusta, Janet Flaherty, Edward & Lorraine Polansky and Tom Flaherty.

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Kathy (Hackman) Sacquitne
Guest
11 months ago

So very sorry to hear of your loss. Ronnie was a great man, who always had a smile to lighten your day. Used to watch their kids while Ron and Cathy went out and they were also great friends of my parents.
Have great memories of their family and ours enjoying each others company..
He will be missed by ALL.