Karl Hagen was born on June 30, 1938 to Iver and Clara (Hanson) Hagen in Osceola Wisconsin. He attended Osceola High School and graduated in 1956. He then attended Waldorf College where he studied business graduating in 1958.

Karl married Linda Stenerson at Trinity Lutheran Church in Moorhead Minnesota on January 17, 1959. Karl attended mortuary school in Milwaukee Wisconsin passing his boards in 1960.

Karl and Linda started their family in Milwaukee Wisconsin before settling in Elroy Wisconsin in 1962. He worked for the local funeral home and later started his own insurance company. In 1986 he purchased West Kjos Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes and moved the family to Minnesota. He retired from the funeral business in 2002.

Karl remained active in Lions Club service for many years and was also a member of Rotary Club International. He was active member of Grace Lutheran Church in Elroy and then attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Detroit Lakes.

Karl will be remembered as a practical joker mixing humor with a bit of wisdom and his deep love for his family. He had a fondness for red boats, red cars, his green recliner, and the color white - white walls, white fence, a white house and white shirts. And of course, his paperwork.

He is survived by his wife Linda; children Penny (Dave) Zmolek of Elroy, WI; Kandy Hagen of Champlin, MN; Steve (Susan) Hagen of Warroad, MN; Tim (Jenny) Hagen of Detroit Lakes, MN; Nikki Hagen of Medford, WI. Along with 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, sister Joyce Smith, sister-in-law, Kathryn Hagen, sister-in-law, Jan (Gordon) Peterson, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Iver and Clara, his brothers John and Paul Hagen and his sister MaryJo Lindeberg.