Robert "Bob" Hagen was born on March 6, 1922 in Mankato, Minnesota to Mary and Helmer Hagen. He passed away Monday, October 13, 2014, in Tulsa, OK at the age of 92 years at St. John Medical Center.
Bob was the fifth born of ten children. His family lived in the small towns of Madison Lake, Marysburg and back to Mankato, where he graduated from high school. He worked at the Ford Garage until 1942, when he enlisted in the Navy. During his service in WWII, Bob worked with FU4-1 Corsairs on an island in the south Pacific. They were a single engine fighter with wings that could fold upwards for transport aboard ships. The aircraft he worked on were planes assigned to the famous "Black Sheep" Squadron, led by the even more famous "Pappy" Boyington.
In 1944, while he was home on leave he was united in marriage to Marilyn Dauber. They moved to Tulsa, OK where he graduated from Spartan School of Aeronautics with an A & P License and worked for American Airlines for 34 years as an Inspector.
Bob spent many long hours working his shift at American and then building his own family home. He was an active member of St. Pius X Church for many years and loyally helped with some church maintenance. Marilyn and Bob took square dance lessons and belonged to Pair and Squares Square Dance Club until well into their 80's. They served several offices of the club and hosted many garage sales to help the club raise money. They enjoyed many friendships made with the square dancers.
Each summer Bob traveled with the family to Minnesota to visit many brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and cousins. Many family memories were made on these yearly two-week Minnesota vacations.
Bob enjoyed gardening, especially growing strawberries and getting all the children involved. He was known as the neighborhood master mechanic for many years and friends and neighbors brought cars and lawn mowers to him for repair. He also enjoyed daily walks and stopping and visiting with friends along the way.
He had a great family commitment to his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews and always tried to help them in any way he could.
He was preceded in death by his wife Marilyn and son Michael. Survivors include: children Barbara Hagen (Bruce) of Spencer, OK, Chuck (Sylvia) Hagen of Owasso, OK, Chris (Arden) Wilkinson of Owasso, OK, Mary Beth (Dennis) Petrik of Caldwell, KS, and Greg Hagen of Broken Arrow, OK; grandchildren Mike (Kim) Wilkinson of Tulsa, OK, Liz (Randy) Pruitt of Owasso, OK, Kristin (Jory) Hutsler of Caldwell, KS, and Josh Petrik of Caldwell, KS; great-grandchildren Caleb Pruitt and Brecken Hutsler; siblings Harold Hagen, Walter Hagen, Dorothy Raway and Paul Hagen, and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 11 -12 noon for Prayer/Remembrance Friday, October 17, 2014; Funeral Services will follow at 1:00 p.m., both at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1727 S 75th East Avenue, Tulsa, OK. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Tulsa, OK.
A special thanks to the staff at Saint Simeon's Memory Care and Heatheridge Assisted Living for their caring support. Gifts in memory of Bob can be given to Saint Simeon's Memory Care, 3701 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Tulsa, OK 74106
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