Howard Arthur Hagen
November 17, 1926 - March 28, 2011
Obituary
Howard A. Hagen
Howard Arthur Hagen, age 84, died peacefully Monday, March 28, 2011, at his home in Seattle, WA with his family at his side.
Howard was born November 17, 1926, in Waukon, Iowa, the son of Glenn and Estelle Bryson Hagen. He married Anita Meints on February 21, 1960 in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Upon graduation from Waterville High School, Howard joined the Army Air Corps where he entered pilot training as an Aviation Cadet. Within months of beginning training, WWII ended and the aviation program was discontinued thereby ending Howard’s dream of a career in military aviation. After his discharge from the Army Air Corps, he attended engineering schools at the University of Kansas, Michigan State College, and the University of Wyoming where he graduated from the first Air Force ROTC program and was commissioned as a 2nd Lt in the United States Air Force.
Howard served a distinguished military career in the Air Force where he was part of the initial development and subsequent management of the U.S. military nuclear weapons program. He was selected to be one of the first 14 Air Force officers to comprise the thermonuclear weapons assembly team at Sandia AFB, New Mexico. His group was trained in the management, assembly, and deployment of the first nuclear weapons to go into the nation’s inventory. His career of 31 years took him and Anita to many duty locations around the world, which they enjoyed immensely. He completed his Air Force career as a Director of Munitions at Headquarters Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado, retiring in 1976 as a Lt Colonel.
Following his retirement from the Air Force and completion of a Master’s Degree in American History at the University of Colorado, Howard began a second career with the Boeing Company where he was employed as Nuclear Weapons Certification Engineer. While at Boeing, he was involved in the nuclear certification of the B-52, the B-1, and the B-2 bombers. He retired from Boeing as a Senior Principal Engineer in 1994.
Following retirement Howard and Anita continued to travel reuniting with friends and family and seeing the world as they went. They divided their time between their home in Seattle and Connecticut where their son Jim and his family live.
During his life, Howard was full of adventure and truly enjoyed the joy of travel and discovery. He cherished time with his family and his friends whom he continued to make wherever he went. Howard will be remembered for his boundless optimism, ever-present smile, and his ability to see and appreciate the best in all of us.
Howard is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Anita, his son James and his wife Nancy, and their three children, Claire, James Jr. and Lydia. Howard was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in SeaTac, WA.
Memorial services will be held on Sunday, April 3 at 3:00 PM, at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 19030 8th Avenue S, SeaTac, WA 98148.
His final burial and memorial service will be held in Waukon, Iowa, this summer with the final date yet to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, we request that any donation be made to either:
The Prince of Peace Lutheran Church at: www.princeofpeaceseatac.com
Or
The American Cancer Society at: www.cancer.org
Dear Anita
I was deeply saddened to read of Howard’s passing in the August 2011 Military Officer Magazine. My deepest sympathy and condolences to you and the entire family. Howard and I were both closely involved in the early phases of the U.S. Nuclear Weapons Program and although our Air Force careers took us down different paths,I have never forgotten Howard. I shall always remember his good will,spontaneity,and charm. He had the rare ability to “light” up a room with his personality and was always ready to help when needed. He was a true Officer and a Gentleman and that is how I will always remember him. I feel privileged to have known him.
Howard was one of the nicest person I have ever met. He played 3rd chair trombone and I played 2nd chair in the Waterville High School band.At the class reunions, he always remembered everyone with his greetings and smile. He will be remembered by us all. My thoughts and prayers are with you,
Dear Anita, Jim, Nancy, and children,
We were the lucky ones, Howard enriched our lives through his family visits to DeKalb. His warm smile and infectious laughter are memorable.
May your memories bring you peace.
Mohsen, Terri, Nina & Adam Pourahmadi
Our prayers are with everyone. Psalm 48:14
Impossible to put my thoughts and memories in 1000 characters. So have sent an e-mail instead.
Howard will be missed. Hope to make the Memorial in Waterville.
Bert Fellows and family
I will always remember Howards fun personality. I feel privileged to have known him, even a little.
That infectious smile, always a kind word, what a man, you will always be missed in our hearts but never forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are out to you Aunt Anita, Jim, Nancy and the grandchildren.
Uncle Howard has been there for us all in so many ways from taking us on vacations as kids to walking my wife done the aisle. Our thoughts and prayers are with you Aunt Anita, Jim, Nancy and the kids. God Bless.
Our sincerest condolences and sympathies to Anita, Jim and family. We will surely miss Howard’s good cheer, zest for life, and good natured teasing. His spirit of discovery, charm, wit, and family care were and will still be an inspiration to our family and I believe the entire Hagen clan residing still near Paint Creek.
So many fond and loving memories of my Uncle Howard : I can hear his laughter, as if it were yesterday, when I would ask him to re-tell the story of why he carried 3 X 5 cards in the front pocket of his shirt! I have etched in my memory his million dollar smile! He was a man who loved life and family, always of honorable character, and exuded great spirit and enthusiasm! I was always proud to say, ‘this is my Uncle Howard!” I will miss you SO much!
I will miss Uncle Howard’s laugh, smile and always wonderful attitued. Uncle Howard was one of the best listeners I’ve ever met and he was always so interested in everything I was doing. I remember looking forward to our family visits to Washington, and Uncle Howard and Aunt Anita’s visits to Sioux Falls. I also remember looking forward to the occassional phone call from Aunt Anita and Uncle Howard on holidays and my birthday. No matter the occassion, Uncle Howard found a way to make it fun. Uncle Howard’s great attitude made everyone around him smile and enjoy themselves, his talents and kindness go beyond words can describe. I’ll miss you Uncle Howard and I wish I was there to celebrate your wonderful and full life! With love, Alex Dempster
I cannot express the sadness we felt upon hearing of Howard’s passing. We will remember your family in our prayers, Anita, and hope to see you in Southbury, again. Everyone loved you both, and will miss Howard very much.
God sent a true gentleman; kind, empathetic, helping and special person to be a wonderful friend and neighbor. Howard always with a smile and helping hand, you made my days brighter. You were a blessing in my life that I will always remember and cherish. Rest dear friend in Jesus arms, your journey has ended and you are home. I will miss you.
Anita, my prayers, love and warm thoughts are with you Jim, Nancy, Claire, Jimbo, Lydia and all the rest of your family. I know God will give you the strength to see you through the difficult days ahead. I wish I could say more to you at this time, but can’t find the words to express what is in my heart. So until I see all of you again and can embrace you, God be with you. Your friend and neighbor, Love Tish