04/12/2026
On April 11, 2026, Chief (retired) Orville Hagen was laid to rest, with community members coming together to honor and pay their respects.
Orville M. Hagen, 78, passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at Gundersen Health in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
He was born on June 21, 1947, in Iowa, to Oscar and Martha (Frost) Hagen. In the eighth grade, his family moved to Northfield, Wisconsin. Orville graduated from Whitehall High School in 1965 and, following graduation, worked in Madison.
On February 11, 1967, he married Lynda Jarstad. The couple lived in Madison until Orville was drafted into the United States Army in November 1967. He served for two years, including one year in Vietnam. After returning home in 1969, they purchased their home in Hixton, Wisconsin, where they continue to reside.
Orville began working for Valley Oil Company in Hixton, where he dedicated 36 years of service. He later worked for Federation/Allied Coop before retiring at the young age of 76.
He was a lifelong member of the Hanson-Lien American Legion Post 368, where he held various leadership roles and participated in numerous parades and military funerals. Orville also served the Hixton Volunteer Fire Department for several decades, including 23 years as Fire Chief. In addition, he was an active member of the Northfield Lutheran Church and the Northfield Cemetery Association.
Orville spent countless hours attending his daughters’ and grandchildren’s sporting events and musical performances, proudly wearing the hat of whichever team he was supporting. Though he often claimed not to care for the family pets, they clearly thought otherwise—frequently sitting by his feet, sharing ice cream on his lap, or even letting him vacuum them.
He was a devoted caretaker of family, friends, and neighbors. He could often be found checking in on others, giving rides for coffee, or helping his daughters and extended family move into homes and apartments over the years.
Orville is survived by his wife of 59 years, Lynda; daughters, Lisa Eddy (Corey) of Trempealeau and Erin Paulson (Cliff) of Winona; grandchildren, Garrett and Owen Eddy, and Rosemary and Marley Paulson; siblings, Elaine Schulze of Omaha, Nebraska, Marlene Olson of New Brighton, Minnesota, Orland (Pat) Hagen of Hixton, Jewell (Julie) Hagen of Alma Center, and Roger (Trudy) Hagen of Hixton; siblings-in-law, Stewart Skaar, Ilene Scholze, Bev Jarstad, Rosalie (Elwin) Walsted, and Nancy Jarstad; as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends, neighbors, and coworkers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Martha and Oscar Hagen; his in-laws, Myrtle and Arthur Jarstad; his sisters, Delores Smotherman and Marcia Skaar; sister-in-law Ardella Hayes; and brothers-in-law Merle Schulze, Russ Olson, Lucky Smotherman, Eugene Jarstad, Stanley Jarstad, Mike Jarstad, Frank Scholze, and Curt Hayes.
