Dr. Douglas Hageman

made for Doug by his family

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Dr. Douglas Rudolph Hageman, 79, of Fargo, ND, formerly of Highmore, passed away Monday, March 18, 2019 at Sanford Broadway Medical Center, Fargo, ND surrounded by his family.

Funeral Mass was held at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, March 28, 2019 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Highmore with Father Paul Josten, celebrant. Visitation began at 12:30 p.m. with a rosary at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery, Highmore.

Doug was born on November 28, 1939 in Thief River Falls, MN, to Rudy and Regina Hageman. He joined older sister Marleen and was followed by Dean and Marlys. He grew up in Highmore, SD, and obtained his veterinarian degree from Iowa State University. He was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War where he served in Colorado. He met his wife, Connie, at the monthly Hale and Farewell at the Officer's Club at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center where she was a dietetic intern. The two were soon married, left military service, and moved to Wessington Springs, SD, to take a job with Dr. Del Feistner, and to welcome their first child. In 1967, he fulfilled his dream of starting his own veterinary practice in Onida, SD, first in a small rental house and then later in a separate building on his own property just outside town where he had various farm animals including a milk cow. His practice was successful, one time so much that he felt the need to turn off his phone to disconnect and take a break – only to have the clients needing his services to come to the house to make sure that he was okay. He made a point thereafter to keep his phone on.

The couple welcomed five more children into their home over 13 years. As the cattle market changed and many people found it less confining to raise crops instead of livestock, Doug worked in practices in Madison, SD, and Danville, IL, where his wife got to follow her dream of working full-time as a dietitian. He worked in Media, IL, prior to having his own beef cattle veterinary practice again in his childhood hometown during his youngest children’s high school years.

Doug preferred having his own veterinary practice, doing things his way, and thoroughly enjoyed his profession. He never planned on retiring, instead cutting back on the services he provided until, in 2015 after 52 years practicing veterinary medicine, he sold his business due to declining health. He moved to Highmore Health nursing home in May 2016 until relocating to Fargo, ND, with his wife to live closer to his youngest daughter and her growing family.

Doug was a man of great faith and love of the Lord, often praying the rosary daily. He was active in the Catholic Church every place he lived, involved in parish council and reading at Mass in Onida. He taught Catholic religious education classes in every parish he worshiped, team teaching with his wife in Onida, Media and Highmore. He was active in the Knights of Columbus in Highmore.

Doug enjoyed bird watching and wild life photography combining both with checking the cattle he managed in the evening in Highmore. He took evening walks with the children on horseback when the children were small in Onida. Later when living in town, he pulled a wagon for the kids when they got too tired to walk. He enjoyed gardening and had a higher standard for being weed-free than other family members.

He loved his grandchildren abundantly and the highlight of his later years was the times that he spent with them, often with a joke or pun to share. A large animal vet by trade, he found great joy in smaller dogs as he aged. He had a lifelong appreciation for animal life and landscapes, and enjoyed taking and sharing pictures of both: the recent concept of “selfies” tickled him to no end.

Doug is survived by a large family including his wife of 52 years, Constance (Kilhoffer) and their six children: Jerome Hageman of Chamberlain, SD; Suellen (and former spouse Matthew) Dabney of Longmont, CO; Paula & Mike Dingle of Stillwater, MN; Debra & Jason Marley of Terre Haute, IN; John & Joanna Hageman of Wichita, KS; and Katrina & Kevin Metcalf of Fargo, ND. Nineteen grandchildren survive him: Kristen, Taylor, Mason, and Kaelyn Dabney; Sebastian and Silas Dingle; Tyler & Jacob Williams and Eli & Tyler Marley; Faith, Gabriel, and Anastasia Hageman; Ash, Arriannah, Tokahda, Rahdrik, Ivan, and Natalie Metcalf. Doug’s surviving siblings include: Dr Dean & Sue Hageman of Belleville, IL; Rich & Marleen Ray of Cincinnati, OH; and brother-in-law John Durfee of Jackson, Tennessee.

He is preceded in death by his grandson, Aiden Marley; his parents, Rudy & Regina Hageman; and his sister, Marlys Durfee.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Doug’s arrangements.