Richard Lucas Hagelberger was born on January 25, 1939 to Richard and Rachel (Bonneville) Adam in Cumberland. He peacefully passed away at dawn, his favorite time of day, on September 19, 2023, with his wife and children by his side. Death was due to complications of cancer and a stroke.

When he was young, his mother and father divorced. Later, his mother remarried Ernie Hagelberger, who adopted him and his two younger sisters, becoming their father. He, together with his two younger sisters, became older siblings to three boys and one girl who were born to Ernie and Rachel.

He grew up in the Cumberland community and received his education thru the Cumberland School District. During his early years, he spent time with uncles and aunts helping on their farms, and later helping his step-father with farm work and maple syrup production in season.  In 1957, he was drafted into the US Army until being honorably discharged in 1960. While serving in the Army, he came in contact with the Church, although he previously remembers seeing Mennonites in the community. He desired to fill the void in his heart and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and was baptized upon the confession of his faith on December 20, 1960 by Minister Rueben Koehn. He was faithful to these vows to the end. On December 30, 1960, he was joined in marriage to our mother, Myrtle Toews sharing the joys and sorrows of life for 62 years. To this union was born one son and a daughter.

Throughout his life, he earned his living as an electrician, farmer, and truck driver, which he especially enjoyed. Our mother joined him on many trucking trips and they were able to have many enjoyable times together. In 1990, they moved to Phoenix, AZ where they lived and made many friends. On September 25, 1994, he was ordained to the deaconry. In 1997, they moved to Yuma, AZ to the new and growing congregation there. In 2000, they again relocated to Cumberland to be closer to their children and where he served the congregation faithfully until his retirement in 2017.

Dad will be remembered as having a deep and abiding love for his Savior throughout his life, and as a simple man who was content with what the Lord provided him in life, and his love of the Bible and could be found spending many hours studying the Bible. He enjoyed spiritual conversations, loved people and did not know a stranger. Upon retirement, they moved in with their children, and he took care of our mother, enjoyed learning and studying Greek, and enjoyed feeding the birds, deer, and the bear. Highlights of his life were going to Mexico to visit friends and visiting his son and family in Bangladesh.

He will be greatly missed by his loving wife, Myrtle; son, Scott (Martha) of Cumberland; daughter, Roxanne (Vincent) Mininger of Blountsville, AL; 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters, Joan (Richard) Anderson of Cumberland and Marlene Sorte of Eau Claire; step-sister, Susan (Carl) Hanson of Barron; step-brothers, David (Glenda) of Cumberland, Mike of Barronett and Mark of Le Center, MN; brothers-in-law, Willard (Gwen) Toews of Arland, Morrel (Yvonne) Toews of Arland and Jim Mljnek of Rice Lake; sisters-in-law, Erma (Maynard) Haynes of Barron, Sylvia Emerson of Barron, Gertrude Toews of Almena and Lydia Toews of Moundridge, KS; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father; parents-in-law; six brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law.

A funeral service for Richard will be held on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the Gospel Mennonite Church in Almena. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 23 at the Gospel Mennonite Church and one hour prior to the service on Sunday morning. Burial will be at Bethany Cemetery in the Township of Cumberland.

Arrangements are being handled by Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron. Online condolences can be made at www.rauschandsteelfuneralhome.com.

Last Update: Sep 21, 2023 10:19 am CDT