Joseph Jacob Hagens

Joseph J. Hagens, 94, Steele, died September 16, 2011, at Medcenter One Care Center off Collins, Mandan. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Wednesday, September 21, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Steele, with Rev. Jerome Hunkler officiating. Burial will be in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Steele. Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm Tuesday, September 20, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Steele, where an evening prayer service will begin at 7:00 pm. Joseph Jacob Hagens was born April 14, 1917, in Loyal, WI, the son of William and Henrietta Gerrits Hagens. He was raised in Loyal and educated at St. Balthasar Catholic School. Just before turning 18, he was hired on a trial basis by Mrs. Emila Jenni. She felt he was probably too young to handle the job, but agreed to give him a chance to see if he would work out. Joseph worked for her as a hired hand for more than nine years and felt that he received a solid agricultural education while employed there. He married Doris DeVore on November 28, 1944, at Marshfield, WI. They operated a dairy farm in Wisconsin until 1946, at which time they moved to North Dakota. They farmed near Steele until their retirement in 1978, when they built and moved into their home in Steele. Joseph was a member of St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and he devoted time to the Republican Party. He was a 45-year member of the North Dakota Farm Bureau and served several times on its board. He enjoyed fishing, dancing and square dancing, and woodworking. Joseph was a devoted husband and father, and held precious his parenting duty. He was dearly loved and will be deeply missed by his family and many good friends. Joseph is survived by his wife, Doris, Steele; four sons and daughters-in-law, Walter and Pat, Raymond and Ann, David and Diana, and Joseph and Cynthia; five daughters and sons-in-law, Janet Tauer, Jeannine and William Heller, Ramona and Dana Trom, Wanda and David Tauer, and Lorena and Kelly Davis; 32 grandchildren and many great grandchildren; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Lawrence and Mary Hagens, Robert and Gerry Hagens, Mary Ann Hagens and Ruth Hagens. He was preceded in death by his son, Leonard Hagens in 1976; his parents; brothers, Norbert, Edward, and Clarence Hagens; sister, Lorena Czechalinski; and son-in-law, Larry Tauer.

Joseph Jacob Hagens

April 14, 1917 - September 16, 2011