Lyle E. Hagen, age 76, of Shawano, passed away Sunday evening, September 15, 2024, following a brief, hard-fought battle with pneumonia and blastomycosis at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah.  Lyle was the first-born son of the late Bertrand and Helen (Nelessen) Hagen, born June 18, 1948, in Shawano, WI the eldest of three brothers and seven sisters.  As a small child he lived upstairs in The Kast House on Sunset Island in Shawano. Eventually, the young family moved to a home on Franklin Street in Shawano where Lyle grew up. He was always surrounded by people, which made him very social and fun loving, traits he would keep his entire life.  Lyle attended Sacred Heart Catholic Grade School and Shawano High School, graduating with the Class of 1966. After high school he entered the United States Air Force. He served in Viet Nam during wartime.  When he returned from service, he worked in the construction field his entire career. He was employed at Consolidated Construction Company Incorporated in Appleton.  Following his retirement from Consolidated, he went to work for the Menominee County Transit as a bus driver, a position he held until his death.  Lyle was an active member of the Shawano VFW Post #2723 in Shawano where he served as the Post Commander for several years. He was also a member of the Post Honor Guard.  Spending time with his family and friends was extremely important to Lyle and he always had big dreams. Lyle had a lot of living to do and was not ready to leave this earth. He truly believed he had time to live those dreams. His unfinished business included building a workshop and travelling out west. His hobbies included riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and having breakfast on the hill with his buddies.

Survivors include his siblings, Phil (Kathy) Hagen, Elaine (Kurt) Schroeder, Rita (Glen) Rancier, Rose Hagen, Clara Duebler, Phyl (Greg) Peters, Jane (Mike) Velie, and George (Sandra) Hagen; sister-in-law, Alicia Hagen; eleven nieces and nephews; and seventeen great nieces and nephews, all who kindly referred to Lyle as “Uncle Grumpy”.  He is further survived by his good Air Force buddy, Ron Gipe, of Illinois. Lyle also had three friends from the service who remained a close-knit group, Dutch, Sonny, and Wayne who accompanied Lyle on the Honor Flight in 2022. Lyle is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marie Hagen; brother, Mark Hagen; niece, Erin Schroeder; and nephew, Nathan Hagen.

A memorial service for Lyle E. Hagen will be held on Saturday, October 5, at 11:00 am at Mickelson Funeral and Cremation Service of Shawano. Father Edward Looney will officiate.  Visitation will begin at the funeral home on Saturday at 9:00 am and continue until the time of service. Shawano VFW Post #2723 will conduct military honors at the funeral home.

Mickelson Funeral & Cremation Service, Inc. of Shawano is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences at www.mickelsonfs.com.