June 18, 2009

OBITUARIES

Eugene Hagemann

Eugene “Gene” M. Hagemann passed away Saturday, June 13, surrounded by his family. He was 84. Gene was born in Caledonia on Aug. 8, 1924, the son of the late Casper and Stella (née: Block) Hagemann Sr. He moved to Racine at the age of 7.

Gene served his country with the U.S. Army Air Corps. While stationed in Saipan he flew 35 missions in a B29 bomber over Tokyo as a right gunner. He survived two crash landings. On July 3, 1949, he was united in marriage to the former Jean M. Fergus. Gene had been employed as a pattern maker by Massey Harris until he founded Nu Wood Cabinet in 1955. He retired in 1986. Gene was a member of St. Edward Catholic Church for over 78 years, a charter member of the Lathrop Ave. Business Assoc., a Boy Scout leader for St. Ed’s Troop 248 and was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus Council 697. He enjoyed all kinds of woodworking, carving and deer hunting. Most of his work was generously given to charity for fundraisers and family and friends as gifts.

In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by their son John; son-in-law, John Graham; brothers, Cap Hagemann, Orville Hagemann and Richard Hagemann; sisters, Laurie (Ed) Jozwik and Ruth (James) Feest; brothers-in-law, William Fergus and Richard Fergus; and sister-in-law Lorraine (Charles) Carothers.

Surviving are his wife of nearly 60 years, Jean; their children and their spouses, Terry Graham of Yellow Springs, Ohio, Paul and Karen Hagemann of Hurley, Wisc., Phil and Ryen Hagemann of Racine, Donna and Bob Van Caster of Hustisford, Wisc. and Margo and Joe Wiesner of Franksville; grandchildren, Dhyana (Justin Crockett) Graham of Columbus, Ohio, Mahya Graham of Yellow Springs, Chandra and Doug Jones-Graham of Ft. Collins, Colo., Kayla Graham of Yellow Springs, Scott Hagemann of Madison, Wisc., Mark Hagemann of Hurley, Wisc., Robert Van Caster and Mary Van Caster of Hustisford, Wisc., Jasper Hagemann, Paige Hagemann, Trent Wiesner, Elise Wiesner and Amelia Wiesner, all of Racine; a great granddaughter to arrive sometime in October; sister, Dorothy Feest, of Racine, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Donna and Larry Pias, Diane and Pat Taggert, Pat Hagemann, Elaine Fergus and Dolores Fergus; special cousin, Gil Audrey Hagemann, of Franksville; nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

His funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 19, at 10 a.m., in St. Edward Catholic Church in Caledonia. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Thursday, from 5 until 7 p.m., and in the church on Friday, from 9 a.m. until the time of the mass. Burial, with full military honors, will be in St. Louis Cemetery, Caledonia. In lieu of flowers his family has suggested memorials to St. Edward Catholic Church or the favorite charity of the donor.

The family would like to send a special thanks to all of the health-care providers who touched Gene’s life with gentle care and kindness over the years.

Rose Chernick

Rose Elizabeth Chernick passed away on Sunday, June 7. She was 92. She was a resident of Friends Care Assisted Living and was previously a resident for many years of Waukegan, Ill., North Chicago, Ill. and Oconomowoc, Wisc.

Rose was born in Allouez Township, Mich., on March 6, 1917, to Anton and Frances (Lochner) Chernick. She was a graduate of Waukegan (Ill.) Township High School.

For many years she was a member and the recording secretary of the Emmanuel United Methodist Church of North Chicago, Ill., and later became a member of Good Shepherd United Methodist Church of Oconomowoc, Wisc. She worked for Abbott Laboratories before becoming a civilian employee of the U.S. Naval Reserve Readiness Command, where she served for nearly three decades.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters, Angeline and Mary Chernick, Lillian Watts Card and Olga Frankovich; and two brothers, Joseph and Rudy Chernick.

Survivors include her nephew and his wife, Glenn and Jane Watts of Yellow Springs; two nieces and their husbands, Karen and Ed Sparks of Oconomowoc, Wisc., and Kathleen and Peter Ogden of Alexandria, Va.; a cousin, William Chernich of Kenosha, Wisc.; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Friends Care Assisted Living for their excellent care and compassion, and to the Miami Township Fire Rescue crew and the Greene Memorial Emergency Room doctors and staff.

Martha Givens

Martha “Marty” J. Givens of Enon died on June 10. She was 65. She was born on Oct. 24, 1943, in Bellefontaine, the daughter of Mary (Johnston) Corry and the late Eugene Corry.

Marty was a 1961 graduate of Bryan High School. She was a retired nurse and worked at Family Practice with Dr. Sally Abbott for many years.

Marty was a kindhearted and loving person who cherished her grandchildren.

She is survived by her two daughters and a son-in-law, Kristy of Columbus and Laura and Ed Hennigan; three grandchildren, Lindsey, Mitchell and Alison, all of South Charleston; her sister and brother-in-law Mary and Bill Short of Yellow Springs and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of forty-three years, Bill Givens, and her brother, Ken Corry.

Services were held Wednesday, June 17, in the Littleton & Rue Funeral Home; burial was in Clifton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in her memory to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.