William Hagen

William Alan Hagen

Resident of Felton

Services will be held in Santa Cruz on Sunday for William Hagen who passed away at his home in Felton on Saturday, July 17, 2010. Born in South Dakota, he was 88 years old. A resident of the San Mateo area for 54 years, he was class valedictorian of Burlingame High School in 1939, and graduated with honors form UC Berkeley, earning a degree in Political Science.

Mr. Hagen served his country during WW II with the 79th Infantry (Cross of Lorraine) Division, which landed in Normandy on June 13, 1944. As a combat medic, he participated in all major campaigns in Northern France, Alsace-Lorraine, The Rhineland, Central Europe, and through the surrender of Germany in May of 1945.

He was awarded a medal by the British for the Rhine Crossing and received a battlefield promotion by General George Patton Jr. He was captured by the Germans during the drive of Cherbourg, but managed to escape by offering to evacuate wounded German officers to the nearby American field hospital. His expertise was in setting up field hospitals as close to the front lines as possible, in order to facilitate treatment of the wounded.

He received both The Croix de Guerre and The Fourragere from the French, and received 4 Bronze Stars for valor, 2 meritorious medals, the Combat Medic Badge, and a Purple Heart. On September 11, 2009, he was named a "Chevalier" of the Legion of Honor by the President of the French Republic in gratitude for, "his personal and precious contribution to the liberation France during World War II." This award, which was presented at the French Embassy in San Francisco, was one of the high points of his life, and he was very proud of it. After the war, he spent 25 years in the Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel, and returned to Normandy several times for "D" Day Celebrations.

Mr. Hagen returned to the Bay area, and was the owner of "Chain of Ladies" apparel sto4es in San Bruno, San Mateo, Burlingame, Hillsdale, and South San Francisco from 1946 to 1971.

He served in many civic organizations including: President of San Bruno Chamber of Commerce (2 terms) and member of the Board for 16 years; Director, Executive Board, Foster City Chamber of Commerce; active member of the Democratic Central Committee, and a close friend of the former congressman Leo Ryan. Mr. Hagen actively participated in a number of campaigns on behalf of Democratic candidates.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jeanne Tisson of Brussels, Belgium and now of Felton, his two daughters and sons in-law, Diane and Michael Guldbech of Sacramento, Danielle and Patrick Pearce of Tumwater, WA.; three sons and daughters in-law, Peter and Adrienne Hagen of Felton; Robert and Terry Hagen of Park River, N.D.; and Paul and Margaret Hagen of DuPont, WA.

He also leaves his 10 loving grandchildren, Mary, Jarrod, Andrew, Melinda, Emily, Bryan, Elizabeth, Laura, Stacy, and Alan. He also leaves 10 great grandchildren, and a host of close friends residing in both America and Western Europe.

Friends may pay their respects at a viewing to be held on Sunday, July 25, 2010, at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. A Catholic Blessing Service will follow at the chapel at 2 O'clock p.m. Burial with full military honors will take place on Monday, in San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Gustine California.