Monica Marie (DOEBEL) HAGEN
HAGEN, MARTIN, DOEBEL, SJOBBERG, MOSTROM, ODONNELL, ENNEN, NUDDLEMAN, PETERSON, MAGNER
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/26/2012 at 17:13:04
Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, March 8, 2012MASON CITY - Monica M. HAGEN, 83, of Mason City, died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, with Pastor Mark DOEBEL officiating. Visitation will be an hour prior to the service. A private inurnment will be held in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, at a later date.
Monica Marie DOEBEL was born on April 5, 1928, on a farm outside of Manly, to her loving parents Bernadette (MARTIN) DOEBEL and Arthur DOEBEL, and big sister, Mary. Her brother Marcus (Bud) was joyfully added to the family when Monica was 5-years-old.
Monica had an idyllic childhood. She loved helping her father do farm chores, after which they would sit and talk. Monica attended country, Catholic and public schools in Manly. After graduation she was offered a job by J. Edgar HOOVER to work for the FBI, but turned the position down.
Monica married Alvin HAGEN on her 19th birthday on April 5, 1947. The couple made their home at 234 12th St. S.E. in Mason City, where they raised three children: Alan Floyd (10/1/1948), Jean Marie (07/11/1952) and Jon Curtis (10/11/1953). Monica's greatest joy in life was being a mom, grandma and great-grandma.
During the time that Alvin and Monica were raising their family, the 12th Street Southeast neighbors were a tight-knit group. It was not unusual to find parents gathered on the Hagen porch in the evenings, solving the problems of the world and watching the kids play games in the yard. Monica became known as "THE" neighborhood mom … always willing to lend a hand, offer friendship, feed a child or babysit.
Monica worked hard at several jobs, including a secretarial position at Standard Oil. She was hired by A.C. Nielsen Co. when it opened a branch in Mason City in 1965. Over the years she was promoted several times until she became a supervisor. She was particularly proud of this, given that, at that time there were very few women who were promoted to management positions. She retired on her 57th birthday to spend more time with her young granddaughter, Alison, and to enjoy life.
She volunteered at the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, the North Iowa Mercy Hospital gift shop, and was a member and officer of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary in Manly. Monica was a grateful member of Al-Anon for many years. She also launched a new career, becoming known to neighborhood children as the "freeze pop grandma" by welcoming the many children who made daily treks to her home for 25 years for conversation and a frozen snack. Her daughter Jean was particularly proud of her mother for being a feminist, a liberal Democrat and for choosing to attend her precinct caucus in 2008 to support Barack Obama.
Monica's last seven years were filled with joy by the addition of her great grandson, Kale. She spent many hours creating cherished memories with her favorite little guy. They enjoyed spending time outside, playing baseball together and visiting the neighbors. Monica handled the gradual progression of her Alzheimer's disease with grace and humor. Monica moved to Kentucky Ridge Assisted Living in March of 2010 before moving to Good Shepherd Health Center in January of 2012.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin (1991), son Jon (1976), son Alan (2004), and her brother, Bud (2005). Monica is survived by her daughter, Jean (John SJOBERG), Iowa City, granddaughter, Alison ROE (Nick MOSTROM) and great-grandson, Kale MOSTROM, Mason City; sister, Mary HAGEN, Manly; sisters-in-law Bonnie DOEBEL, Clear Lake, Vivian HAGEN, Algona, and Ruth O'DONNELL (Jim), Mason City; and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
She also had many special friends who will miss her presence in their lives including Merv ENNEN (Mason City), who became like a son to Monica after Alan died, Lori Woolery (Chandler, Ariz.), the Kathy NUDDLEMAN family (Mason City), Kay HAUGEN (Rockwell), Ethel MAGNER (Mason City), and the PETERSON family who lived next door to Monica on 12th Street Southeast. She is also survived by her spoiled cat, Smokey.
Following Monica's example, the family requests that everyone practice random acts of kindness and suggests donations to UNICEF, www.unicefusa.org, 1-800-FOR-KIDS, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10016.
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel; www.colonialchapel.com; 641-423-2372.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2012
Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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