I traveled to Millerville, Mn. today (just north of Alexandria) to attend the funeral of a member of my Spring Valley High School class.  The Priest did a good job considering he had never visited with Mike Hagedorn.  All of his siblings, including a brother who lives in Germany were in attendance.  Mike did not live in the Alexandria area but his Mom did and a few of his siblings were in the area.  His parents belonged to the church, Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church.

Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church Millerville, Mn. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church Millerville, Mn. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
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Below is a poem I wrote after returning home and reflected on the simple, yet impactful life of Mike Hagedorn.  A member of the Spring Valley High School Class of 1977.

I ATTENDED THE FUNERAL OF A HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE WHO WAS
A HUMBLE CHRISTIAN NOT SEEKING APPLAUSE

MICHAEL STANLEY HAGEDORN LIVED JUST 60 YEARS IN THIS LIFE
HE CAME CLOSE TO TYING THE KNOT BUT NEVER HAD A WIFE

MIKE AS I AND MANY OF HIS FRIENDS CALLED HIM WAS A BRILLIANT MAN  EARNING MASTERS AND DOCTORAL DEGREES IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, PART OF GOD’S PLAN

MIKE WAS A TALENTED MUSICIAN AND ENJOYED VISITING WITH PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE ON HIS HAM RADIO
HE CONSIDERED BEING A PRIEST, GOD HAD OTHER PLANS FOR HIM THOUGH

AT THE TIME OF HIS PASSING MIKE WAS AN INSTRUCTOR WITH VETERANS ASSEMBLED ELECTRONICS IN ORLANDO
HE TRAINED TRANSITIONING SOLDIERS AND SERVICE DISABLED VETERANS FOR CAREERS AS ELECTRONIC TECHNICIANS, WHICH MADE HIM GLOW

AND MAN COULD MIKE GLOW, HE HAD A SUPER SMILE
WITH A GREAT, MISCHIEVOUS HUMOR STYLE

A FEW YEARS BACK I VISITED MIKE IN FLORIDA FOR HOURS OF CONVERSATION
WE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING, FROM BIBLE TEACHINGS TO FUTURE CONTEMPLATION

HE WAS A DEVOTED CATHOLIC, I OF LUTHERAN FAITH
WE CELEBRATED THE SAME GOD AND WHAT HE SAITH

WE SHARED OUR CHRISTIAN STRUGGLES AND AGREED, GOD NEVER PROMISED A LIFE OF EASE
SEVERAL YEARS BACK MIKE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LYME DISEASE

IT TOOK AWHILE FOR DOCTORS TO DETERMINE HE SUFFERED FROM THE MALADY TRANSMITTED BY A TICK BITE

I AM NOT SAD FOR MIKE BECAUSE I KNOW HE IS IN A BETTER PLACE
HE HAS BEEN TAKEN BY ANGELS TO SEE HIS HEAVENLY FATHER’S FACE

I AM SAD FOR ALL OF US WHO HAVE TO LIVE THE REMAINDER OF OUR LIVES WITHOUT HIM IN OUR MIDST
FOR HIS SEVEN SIBLINGS AND MOTHER WHO WANTED THE NORMAL CYCLE OF LIFE TO EXIST

A MOTHER NEVER WANTS TO BURY HER CHILD IT’S AN UNIMAGINABLE AGONY FOR SURE
YOU WITNESS THEIR BORN CRY WITH A LOVE SO PURE

MIKE WAS ACTIVE IN HIS CHURCH ASSISTING OTHERS IN THEIR WALK WITH GOD
I CAN’T THINK OF A BETTER WAY THROUGH THIS LIFE TO TROD

MIKE, I HOPE WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER LENGTHY CONVERSATION IN HEAVEN SOMEDAY
THERE WILL NOT BE WORK OR ANYTHING ELSE TO GET IN OUR WAY

Our Lady of Seven Dolars Catholic Church Altar Millerville, Mn. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld
Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church Altar Millerville, Mn. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld 
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