Janet Hagen

Janet Hagen died Dec. 14, 2012, on her 87th birthday, in Fort Collins, CO. She is survived by Carl, her husband of 67 years, daughters Ann Buckner (John), Gail McMahon (Bud), Jane Hagen (Tom Selling), son Eric Hagen (Debbie), 16 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and brother Barney Smetzer (Ann). Janet was born in Santa Monica, CA to Ruth Robbins Smetzer and Bernard Obed Smetzer. She graduated from Van Nuys High School where she served as president of the Girls’ Athletic League. She was a member of Alpha Delta Pi at UCLA. Janet met Lt. Carl J. Hagen on a blind date, shortly before he was stationed near Foggia, Italy, to serve as an Army Air Corps pilot in World War II. Carl was smitten, and painted “My Janet” across the nose of his P-38 fighter plane. After the war, Carl was part of the Air Force Reserve. Janet and Carl married on Nov. 4, 1945 and moved to Spokane, WA, where they worked in the Hagen Photography Studio. Carl was reactivated into the Air Force in 1951 and Janet began her career as an Air Force wife ‘extraordinaire.’ An eternal optimist, she looked forward to each move and made life-long friends wherever they went. First stop was Alaska, then Texas, Germany, Washington, Montana, Australia, and Colorado. Carl often traveled ahead to his new assignment, so it was capable Janet who packed up the household belongings, cleaned the house, gathered four kids and the collie dog, and traveled half way around the world, if need be, to join Carl. Following his retirement from the Air Force, Janet and Carl moved to Breckenridge, CO. They lived in a tent for months while building their dream home. Upon its completion, Janet retired from construction and began her 8-year career as a ski instructor at the Breckenridge Ski School. Later, Carl and Janet moved to Spokane to be near friends and family. When Carl had a traumatic biking accident in 1991 at the hands of a drunk driver, Janet again showed amazing strength. She oversaw one final move to Fort Collins, CO, and created a home where she could care for Carl alongside Ann and Gail. She and Carl were active in Newcomers Club, Front Range Forum, and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Their happy home was the site of innumerable large family gatherings and potluck dinners. Throughout Janet’s life she volunteered her time and talents, serving altar guilds, Red Cross and Girl Scouts. She was a past president of the Officers Wives’ Club, and helped plan and participate in skits and shows. She loved skiing, sewing formals for her daughters and dancing with her husband. She was an avid golfer, and had a hole-in-one to her credit. Janet’s strength and devotion to family were again evidenced following a major stroke in 2003. With the help of her daughters and wonderful devoted caretakers, she was able to live at home, laughing at Carl’s stories with a twinkle in her eye, and remembering the names of people and places her family could not. She was so very proud of each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and she adored all their spouses, too. Janet was and will remain an inspiration to her family. With an optimistic outlook on life, she looked for the good in everybody and for the joy in each new situation. She was kind, generous, funny, wise, and brave. Our beautiful Janet, we will carry you within us, always. You will be loved and remembered forever. Services will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 11 am on Dec 29, 2012. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or Craig Hospital (www.craighospital.org).

Janet Hagen

December 14, 1925 - December 14, 2012