CMSGT. Jack Hagelin. USAF Retired

CMSGT. JACK F. HAGELIN, USAF RETIRED

On March 17, 2011, Jack Francis Hagelin passed away in his home, surrounded by family and friends who loved him dearly. Jack is survived by his wife, Ah-shia Hagelin and seven children. Jack was born September 2, 1923 in Kansas City, Missouri. He began playing the violin at the age of six, a talent he would practice for the rest of his life. Jack enlisted in the United States Navy on December 8, 1941. He was involved in the Pacific campaign during World War II, including Iwo Jima, the liberation of the Philippines and many other naval battles. He spent 8 years in the Navy but ultimately retired from the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant. He had a total of 20 years of honorable service. After the military, Jack worked as a lead technical representative for Pratt and Whitney Aircrafts for 28 years. After retirement, he enjoyed building models, collecting zippo lighters and pocket watches, watching old films and spending time with his wife. His life was a great adventure that took him the world over. He will be deeply missed by the many lives he touched, but his story will be told for generations to come. A military graveside service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at Leavenworth National Cemetery, Leavenworth, KS. 

Visits: 0

Condolences

  1. Terri Izzi on March 18, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    No words can express my love and admiration for Dad. I love him dearly and know he he is at peace with God.



  2. Eugenia (Gena) Gilligan on March 18, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    My Dear Dad, You taught me how to be a survivor. I thank you for that. I have such wonderful memories of you, both growing up, and as an adult. Those will be in my heart always, and I will smile in rememberence. You will be sorely missed, but forever in my heart. I love you
    Gena



  3. Ron Wayne on March 19, 2011 at 2:27 pm

    Jack was my dear friend and mentor. I have known him for over 30 years and we served together in Taiwan. After his retirement from P&W we continued our friendship with many visits the last of which was last year. A great loss and he will be missed.



  4. Jack & Nicky Nolan on March 20, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    Grandpa Jack was an honorable, couragous and loving man. He will be remembered and we shall keep his memory alive through us. God Bless his soul. Rest in Peace!

    Love, Jack and Nicky



  5. Chris Wallace on March 20, 2011 at 2:54 pm

    Rest in peace Uncle Jack. My sympathies to the Hagelin family and all who loved him.



  6. Kathleen Hubler on March 20, 2011 at 4:32 pm

    My sincerest sympathy to Ah-shia and the entire Hagelin clan. Jack was one of the most interesting men I have ever met…he had such fascinating stories to tell. He was such a wonderful and caring cousin to my mother, Carmen Handley. He will be sorely missed.



  7. PAT WRIGHT-DIETZMAN on March 20, 2011 at 7:58 pm

    My condolences to Ah-shia, Tana and all of Jacks family. He was a loyal attendee at our family reunions and we will miss him. I especially liked his story of the Spruce Goose! May God bless you all with peace and happy memories in the days and weeks ahead.



  8. Harry Brunett on March 21, 2011 at 1:15 am

    My deepest reguards to ALL the FAMILY~~The Family that I’ve grown to LOVE the past 5 years~~ It was my Greatest pleasure to sit & visit with Jack (dad) the past 2 years–I wish I had met him Years before~~ We have alot in common~~ BOTH of dearly love his daughter Eyouganyah~~(Gena)~~His memory was jumping in & out-as far as remembering Who I was~~ But last spring he did remember WHO had cut his tree down!! So I guess I was accepted into the family– I love You dad- May GOD keep you in peace and in NO MORE PAIN!!~ Ah-Shia; My blessings to YOU– You took such great care of him–stood by him Loved him “TILL DEATH DO US PART” ~~Yes an awsome woman!! SEE YA ALL SOON~~~ Harry



  9. Lucille Wright Kreeger on March 21, 2011 at 8:36 am

    to the Hagelin family,
    god
    bless you Love Lucille



  10. Jessica Talbert (Gilligan) on March 21, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    Wow what an amazing man! I Love you grandpa and will miss you so very much. Ah-Shia you are a wonderful person and amazing wife. I am so very glad to know you and I love you. You and the rest of the family are in my thoughts and prayers. I love you all.



  11. Suzanne Hagelin on March 21, 2011 at 7:44 pm

    My dear father-in-law… I am so blessed to have known you and to be a part of your family. I treasure some very special memories of late night conversations with you as you told stories, spoke of your faith in God and your prayers for your family. I know I will see you again in heaven.
    I love you, Suzanne



  12. Jim Petty on March 22, 2011 at 11:54 am

    To Jack’s Family:
    Please accept my sympathy for your loss. No matter what age, the loss of a spouse or parent leaves you diminished. I hope he didn’t suffer.
    Jim Petty



  13. Tara Glanz on March 22, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    My deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers are with the Hagelin family during this time. It is my pleasure to work with Jack Jr, who must take after his father. God bless you all.



  14. Tara Glanz on March 22, 2011 at 12:41 pm

    My deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers are with the Hagelin family during this time. It is my pleasure to work with Jack Jr, who must take after his father. God bless you all.



  15. Jack Stephen (Steve) Hagelin on March 24, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    My father left an impact on his family that will last for generations. He was a man of strong character, deep convictions, high standards, immovable principles, courage, staunch patriotism, and a firm faith in God. Because of his values, we (his children) grew up associating the Hagelin name with: honor, integrity, justice, fair-play, honesty, courage, hard work, personal responsibility, doing the right thing, excellence, leadership, independent thinking, self respect, and a can-do attitude.

    He was a very serious man, but also soft-hearted. He loved his family deeply.
    He had a well-developed sense of humor, and loved to play practical jokes (for example, once he saved up pistachio nuts that weren’t cracked and would put these out for company, just to watch them vainly look for one they could open).

    He taught us it was OK to be different from others, that we did not need to give in to peer pressure, that just because everyone else does something – that is not a good enough reason for me to do it. He taught us to be leaders, not followers. He also taught us that it is not your height that matters (we were all pretty short, except for Tom) – it is what is in your mind that matters – you are as big as who you think you are. He taught us to be the best we could be in whatever we did in life. We all knew that to be a Hagelin was something special.

    Dad’s principles came from the Bible. He bought and gave Bibles to everyone in his family tree. He read it cover to cover several times. He said: “If you can believe the first verse– you can believe the whole thing”. I know that he is now at peace with the Lord.

    I am proud to say, he was not only a military hero to his country, but he was a hero to his family and to me.



  16. Jack Stephen (Steve) Hagelin on March 24, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    My father left an impact on his family that will last for generations. He was a man of strong character, deep convictions, high standards, immovable principles, courage, staunch patriotism, and a firm faith in God. Because of his values, we (his children) grew up associating the Hagelin name with: honor, integrity, justice, fair-play, honesty, courage, hard work, personal responsibility, doing the right thing, excellence, leadership, independent thinking, self respect, and a can-do attitude.

    He was a very serious man, but also soft-hearted. He loved his family deeply.
    He had a well-developed sense of humor, and loved to play practical jokes (for example, once he saved up pistachio nuts that weren’t cracked and would put these out for company, just to watch them vainly look for one they could open).

    He taught us it was OK to be different from others, that we did not need to give in to peer pressure, that just because everyone else does something – that is not a good enough reason for me to do it. He taught us to be leaders, not followers. He also taught us that it is not your height that matters (we were all pretty short, except for Tom) – it is what is in your mind that matters – you are as big as who you think you are. He taught us to be the best we could be in whatever we did in life. We all knew that to be a Hagelin was something special.

    Dad’s principles came from the Bible. He bought and gave Bibles to everyone in his family tree. He read it cover to cover several times. He said: “If you can believe the first verse– you can believe the whole thing”. I know that he is now at peace with the Lord.

    I am proud to say, he was not only a military hero to his country, but he was a hero to his family and to me.



  17. Ashley Reyes on September 23, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    dear Aunt Terri,
    this is your neice Ashley, i love you so much and i just wanted you to know that. You are a very strong woman and i greatly admire that about you. I hope you are doing okay, and I’m sorry we haven’t talked, since the last time i saw you at Hastings with Uncle Steve, and i was with Kevin, but i love you so much, and just want you to know that. Hang in there, I hope to see you soon.



  18. Eric Hagelin on October 19, 2011 at 9:19 am

    I consider you an excellent man and father, and I love you and miss you, Dad. ~Memory Eternal~



Leave a Condolence