Irving Thelmer Hagen

Irving Thelmer Hagen, age 99, of Saint James, died on December 9, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society in Saint James.

Funeral service will be held at Albion Lutheran Church in rural Saint James on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, at 11:00 am., with visitation one hour prior to the service at the church. The clergy will be Rev. Robert Springer. Interment with military honors will be at Albion Lutheran Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Saint James. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Irving was born January 8, 1925, to Edward and Olga (Finstad) Hagen on the family farm in Albion Township, Brown County. He attended Country School #47 and graduated from Saint James High School in 1942. From 1944 to 1946, Irving served in the US Navy during WWII as a tailgunner in a PMB-5 Bomber with 650 flight hours. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Crew Wings with three stars, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the Philippine Liberation Medal. After being honorably discharged from the US Navy, Irving returned home and married his sweetheart Shirley Bonderman. Together they had three children. He farmed his entire working career and loved his John Deere tractors.

Irving was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post #365 in Hanska and VFW. He was a board member of the Luther Memorial Home, State Bank of Hanska, Hanska Shipping Association, longtime member of the Hanska Sons of Norway, the Gudbronsdalslage, and Hanska Lin-Hans-Rud Folk Dancers. In his free time, Irving enjoyed fishing, hunting, traveling, raising cattle, dancing, league bowling, and snowmobiling. He and Shirley traveled to and participated in many Norwegian/Scandinavian events throughout the country and even in Norway. He was a wonderful and special person who will be missed by all who knew him.

Irving is survived by his children, Alan "Terry" (Evelyn) Hagen, Ronald Hagen, and Melva (Steve) Dahl; grandchildren, Trent (Jennifer), Brian, Nathan (Lisa), Jon (Michelle), Eryka, and Allyson; 17 great grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; and brother, Dale Brayton.

Irving was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Shirley in 2017; sister, Elledean Anderson; and brothers, Sanford Hagen and Duane Brayton.