Earl R. Hagen
May 21, 1915 – January 1, 2016
Earl R. Hagen (Papa) was born on May 21, 1915 to Norwegian immigrants Petter and Gunda Hagen at their home in Lemolo, where Earl lived his entire life. He always said, “I was born in this house, and I’m going to die in this house.” Earl got his wish and passed away on Jan. 1, 2016 with his daughter at his side.
In 1930, at age 15, Earl found himself the man of the family at age 15 when his father died. He delivered coal, cut wood and did several odd jobs to support his family. He worked at Keyport during the war as a crane operator.
Earl and his wife, Irene owned Hagen’s Auto Parts on Viking Way in Poulsbo for 30 years before retiring in 1977 to be able to golf more. Earl was a member of the Kitsap Golf & Country Club until he was 98, when they then made him an honorary member. Earl was also an active member of the Bremerton Elks, and he and Irene were very involved with the Elks Travel Club. He was so proud to be Norwegian so, of course, Earl was a member of the Sons of Norway in Poulsbo.
Family was everything to Papa and was always so happy to have them “come home,” as he would say. Earl’s memory will live on with his daughter, Dorene Oswalt; granddaughter, Laura Nicks-Anderson and grandson, Kelly Oswalt (Laurie); great-grandchildren, Tonya McCarty, Jason Nicks (Rachelle), Amber Nicks, Megan Sherrard (Sean), Chase Oswalt (Shenowah), and Ryan Oswalt; great-great-grandchildren, Sean McCarty, Zoe McCarty, Gavin McCarty, Nash Sherrard, Autumn Sherrard, Hayes Sherrard, Hagen Nicks, Tran Scrafford, Lilia Scrafford, Elise Scrafford, Kayden Oswalt, Adelyn Oswalt; great-great-great- granddaughter, Paxton McCarty; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Irene; son-in-law, Don Oswalt; sister, Viola Longnecker (Bill); grandson-in-law, Tork Anderson; and his first wife, Laura, in 1938.
Visitation is scheduled 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at The Stone Chapel Poulsbo Mortuary and again 9:30-10:45 a.m. Jan. 12, with funeral service to follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be private at Forest Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to North Kitsap Fishline or Martha & Mary. An online memorial can be seen at www.poulsbomortuary.com
