Aloisia "Lüise" Hagen

Lüise Hagen was born on June 13, 1936, in Salzburg, Austria as the third child of Maria and Franz Enzinger. Lüise grew up with 10 other siblings in a large family and despite the war.

After 7 years of elementary school and 1 year of convent school in Salzburg, she then trained as a kindergarten teacher for 2 years. After her training, she went to Munich and worked there as a kindergarten teacher for the US army.

In the spring of 1958, she met the soldier Russell D. Hagen and they married on October 14 of the same year. They were stationed in Munich until 1961, when they were transferred to NATO Headquarters in Fontainebleau, near Paris, France, until 1964, when they were transferred to New Jersey, USA and Russell was drafted for the Vietnam War.

Lüise always worked as a kindergarten teacher for the US Army during this time. Since 1975, they lived in Junction City, first in the city, then from 1984, in their beautiful home on Old Milford Rd. The beautiful house and the large garden were Lüise's pride and joy and she worked hard on and for this house.

Her dogs and cats were always with her. She had a passion for these animals and also for her Christmas decorations in and around the house. From time to time, Lüise and Russell found time to fly to Switzerland and Austria to visit their family. Lüise and Russell celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on October 14, 1983, in Salzburg with the whole family and it was a wonderful celebration.

In 1999, Lüise was diagnosed with breast cancer and was given a life expectancy of about 3 months! But Lüise was a fighter and she did everything she could to keep on living and she has managed to do so to this day despite the difficult journey.

After 55 years of life together, Lüise had to say goodbye to her beloved husband Russell forever on February 11, 2013. This was a very great loss for her, which she never fully got over. In June 2016, she celebrated her 80th birthday with the whole family in Salzburg. A further and very tragic stroke of fate overtook Lüise on the morning of February 16, 2021, early at 0200 am. Her house, her belongings, everything fell victim to a fire, but the worst thing for Lüise was that her beloved dogs, Lilly and Russell, died in the fire. She never got over it.

In October 2021, Lüise traveled to Switzerland/Austria one last time to see her family. Yes, she was a fighter and always worked hard, even at the ripe old age of 85, she never gave up! But now she was too tired and too ill to fight any longer, she wanted to join her beloved husband, Russell. We therefore say goodbye to Lüise and thank her for the many wonderful encounters and memories.

With love your Family in Switzerland and Austria

A graveside service will take place at Kansas Veterans' Cemetery, Friday, May 17, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions are suggested to go to the Junction City Animal Shelter, 2424 N. Jackson St., Junction City, Kansas 66441.

***To share a special memory of Lüise or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.***