Dan Hagberg

Dan F. Hagberg passed away April 13, 2012 at St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth after a short illness. He was born in Duluth on Feb. 17, 1937 to Fred and Lillian Hagberg. He graduated from Denfeld High School in 1957. Dan was a good friend, generous to a fault, and to his family, he was a wonderful uncle. As kids, he'd wrestle with his nieces and nephews, often to the dismay of his mother Lillian Hagberg, who feared for our lives. But we loved it and always came back for more. He'd take us to Dukes and Twins games, or golfing at Pike Lake, or Henry's Hamburgers for an 18-cent burger and a malt. Uncle Dan always gave the best Christmas presents for kids: Money. Dan was DTA bus driver for 32 years, retiring in 1993. He was good at it, and seldom lost a passenger. He was a proud member of the Teamsters Union. He enjoyed retirement at the home his father Fred built during the Great Depression and later Edgewood Vista. He loved feeding chipmunks by hand, mowing his lawn and cooking really thick steaks on the grill. Dan loved 50's music, especially Les Paul and Mary Ford. He could sing and dance, but only did that in his living room. He made many friends at Shannon's Bar in the West End, where the Hamm's beer was cold and happy hour was warm. Nobody was able to buy a round before Dan Hagberg did, friend or stranger. He was a warm, giving person who never judged anyone, laughed a lot, made others around him laugh, and he let life come to him. The word "stress" was not in his vocabulary. He'll be missed here but welcomed in heaven. He'll try to get the first round, but this time it'll be on The House. Dan Hagberg was preceded in death by his parents Fred W. Hagberg and Lillian Leslie Hagberg, as well as his beloved sisters Marlene Simonson and her husband Dan and infant sister Marilyn. Also going before him were his niece Bonnie Kae Simonson, his great-niece Teresia and great-nephew David Grimm. He is survived by his niece Dianne (Craig) Edgett of South Range; nephews Mark and Michael (Jennifer) Simonson of Duluth; and great nieces and nephews Regina, Rebecca, and Benjamin Grimm. GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 9 a.m. Monday at Bethany Cemetery, Hermantown. Memorial gifts can be made to WDSE-TV, for the musical and nature shows Dan so enjoyed. Arrangements by Williams-Lobermeier Boettcher Funeral Home. To sign the guestbook online go to www.wlbfuneralhome.com.