Marian Nelson Haagen, 95

March 04, 2016

Marian Nelson Haagen was born in Princeton, IL on March 30, 1920 and departed this life on March 4, 2016. She was the daughter of the late Herman and Selma Pierson Nelson. Her brother John preceded her in death. Her five sisters, all in their nineties, are Lillian of Davenport, IA, Mildred of Stanford, CA, Ruth of Anaheim Hills, CA, Eleanor of Rock Island, IL and Elaine of River Forest, IL.

Marian grew up on a 400 acre farm in Bureau County, IL. She and her siblings walked a mile to a one-room school house to receive their elementary education. She graduated from Princeton High School and from Knox College in Galesburg, IL. Marian was employed as a secretary by the State University of Iowa and at Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT. In the last ten years of her employment she served as Executive Secretary to the American Secretary of the Rhodes Scholarship Trust.

In 1943 she married Conrad Hess Haagen, her beloved husband of 72 years. They had three children: Elaine Kathryn Haagen, MD (David Fisher (dec.), Rye, NY, Mary Ann Haagen (Charles Depuy), Enfield, NH, and Paul Hess Haagen, Esq. (Lucy Weinstein), Durham, NC. There are five grandchildren: Jed Burgess (Becca) Redwood City, CA, Rachael Wilde (Rossiya Fajardo), Brooklyn, NY, Jessica Wilde (Scott Backer), West Hartford, CT, Jonathan Haagen (Kira), New York City, and Christopher Haagen, Beijing, China. Her three great-grandchildren are Ella and Langston Fajardo-Wilde and Marin Backer-Wilde.

Marian’s stenographic and editorial skills were outstanding. She was an excellent cook and baker. Although never satisfied with her skills as a seamstress, she took pride in making her children’s clothing. In high school and college she played trombone in their bands and throughout life played piano and organ and sang in a variety of choral groups. She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lancaster, and sang in its choir for many years.

In retirement Marian participated in 18 Elderhostel Programs. She enjoyed being at their farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina and loved attending gatherings of her family.

A Celebration of Her Life will be held in the Community Room of Luther Acres in Lititz, PA at 11:00 AM, Friday, April 1, 2016. The family will receive friends in the Luther Acres’ Chapel of the Good Shepherd from 10:00 until 10:50 AM. Private inurnment in Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Garden. Please omit flowers. For those who wish to make a memorial gift, the family respectfully suggests: the Caring Fund, LutherCare, 600 E. Main St., Lititz, PA 17543, Masonic Village Hospice, One Masonic Dr., Elizabethtown, PA 17022, or, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 31 S. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602.