Paul Hagensen Obituary

PAUL HAROLD HAGENSEN
January 1, 1929 ˜ April 27, 2023

Paul died peacefully on April 27, 2023, surrounded by his children. One of 10 children, he was born on Jan. 1, 1929, to Nis and Vita Hagensen at the family farm in Fern Prairie north of Camas. He grew up in a loving home, and attended the Fern Prairie School. Paul was a standout baseball player in his class at Camas High School (1946), and later at Clark College. He was in the Army, serving in the Korean Conflict and, when on leave in the winter of ’49-’50, met the love of his life, Betty Green, and the two married in 1952. The couple then had five children in the next five years. While Betty lovingly cared for their children and ran the household, Paul worked in the grocery business to support his family. He thoroughly enjoyed all of the family activities, including playing on the floor with his young children and later in sports and family camping trips. In 1972 the couple purchased Fern Prairie Market, where Paul and Betty treated customers like an extended family for the 15+ years they owned the business. After retiring, the couple traveled extensively but also enjoyed attending the numerous athletic events and activities their grandchildren were involved in. Paul and Betty had a continuous loving relationship with all five of their children who lived close by with their respective families, and enjoyed participating in the lives of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Paul was a loving, dedicated husband and father who put the interests and well-being of his family first, and his love was unwavering. Paul and Betty, as well as their children, felt fortunate to have this continuing unbroken strong family bond. Paul and Betty celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Dec. 3, 2022. Their entire relationship was based upon true love, happiness, and the devotion to each other they shared, and Paul was heartbroken upon the loss of Betty on Dec. 10, 2022. Paul was also predeceased by his parents, Nis and Vita Hagensen; brothers, Roy, Donald, James, Kenneth, Charles; sisters, Margaret Girvan, Marian Buslach, and Eileen Hively. Paul is survived by two daughters, Bernice Sundby (Mike), Debbie McEnry (Dan, deceased); three sons, John (Dawn), Steve (Shirley), Mark (Lori); brother, Jack Hagensen; 13 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. A combined celebration of life for Paul and Betty will be held at the Black Pearl in Washougal on June 3 at 2:00 p.m.
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