James Hager

James N. Hager, 69, of Waukon died Monday, May 11, 2015 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, May 15 at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon, with Pastor Tom Buresh officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery.
James Nathan Hager was born September 21, 1945 in Decorah, the son of Nathan Paul and Alta Viola Ingeborg (Gilbertson) Hager. He was baptized and confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon. Jim attended country school through eighth grade at Ludlow #2 in Ludlow Township, rural Waukon.
In 1963, Jim graduated from Waukon High School and attended airline traffic management school in Minneapolis, MN. He was too young to get a job with the airlines so Jim returned home to farm with his dad. In 1968, Jim worked for Cod Brandt at Brandt’s DX. In 1970, he began farming full time until 2004, when he was required to quit due to health reasons.
December 18, 1971, Jim married Deborah Schultz. From this marriage two sons were born, Jason James and Joshua Jonn. The couple later divorced. Jim worked part-time for Jim’s Full Service for many years and part-time for the City of Waukon as the Planning and Zoning Administrator. From 1965-1977, Jim was a member of the Wisconsin National Guard and retired as a Staff Sergeant.
May 23, 2009, he married Mary Ann (Krohmer) Seigenthaler at Zalmona Presbyterian Church, Waukon. Jim served many years as a Ludlow Township Trustee. He also served for many years on the following boards: Waukon Equity Co-op, Farm Bureau, and the Waukon Fire District, where he was very involved with combining the rural and city fire departments into one. He was also a 4-H leader, and served on the cemetery committee and as a deacon and elder of Zalmona Presbyterian Church. Jim belonged to the American Legion Post 62 of Waukon and was a longtime member of Pheasants Forever.
Jim enjoyed traveling with his wife, Mary Ann. He talked most about the Alaskan cruise and Hawaii, and he enjoyed camping at their permanent campsite at Hunters Slough in Prairie du Chien, WI. He spent many years playing softball on Beer Can Hill, playing shuffleboard and bowling, where, in 1987, Jim and Ken Winke won the Iowa State Booster Doubles Championship.
He enjoyed farming and was very proud of the sheep and hogs he raised and really missed the little lambs after he retired. Jim enjoyed spending time with all the boys and their families and going to all the grandchildren’s activities.
Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, of Waukon; his children, Jason James (fiancée Becky Lutz) Hager and Joshua Jonn (Tara) Hager, both of Waukon; two stepsons, Todd William (Jennifer) Seigenthaler of Waukon and Travis James (Emily Maxwell) Seigenthaler of La Crosse, WI; nine grandchildren, MaKayla Dahlstrom, Landen Hager, Hunter and Hailey Seigenthaler, and Atlanta, Ayonna and Az McKithen, all of Waukon, and Isabell and Kadynce Seigenthaler of La Crosse, WI; two brothers, Steven M. Hager of Waukon and Randall (Lynn Gummert) Hager of Laurel; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Honorary casketbearers were Norm Christianson, Jim Evanson, Dan Gallagher, Keith Held, Don Henningsgaard, Dave Martin, Scott Miene and Rod Peterson.