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Charles J. Hagerman, Sr., age 88 of Ludington died on January 22, six days after suffering a brain injury in a bad fall. Charles was born on December 9, 1926 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to Miles and Mary Hagerman who preceded him in death. He attended school in Ft. Wayne and entered the Army Air Corps in 1944, serving in the Pacific Theater during the final days of World War II.
After returning home, Charles attended DeVry University in Chicago where he received training in electronics. This training brought him to Ludington where he worked at the recently formed WKLA radio station. He and owner Ray Plank built the radio station which still stands on Ludington Avenue.
Charles had a varied working career. After working at WKLA for many years, he worked for a short time at Jackson Vibrators, and then he bought a small restaurant in Scottville called Chuck’s. After selling the restaurant, he began his last job working as a radar, electronics technician for the C & O Car Ferries.
Charles is survived by his wife, Kitty; five children, Charles J. (Patsy) Hagerman, Jr., Gloria (Ted Greer) Thompson, Lisa Hagerman, Julie Hagerman, and Christopher Hagerman; three grandchildren, Jackie (Dan Reeder) Thayer, Krista (Todd) Johnson, and Mary Ellen Lang; great grandchildren, Brianna, Alexzanda, Emmarose, Bradley and Josie; one great great grandchild Kighlee.
Charles was a man of many talents and wasn’t afraid to try anything new. He built two homes and one airplane (in the basement). He loved golf (hitting a hole-in-one at Lincoln Hills). He loved to travel, with England being his favorite destination. In retirement he and his wife and dear friends Ron and Paula Kovar took many trips together. Charles was an animal lover, and he said his most recent dog Abby was a Laplander because whenever she saw a lap, she landed on it. But his greatest love was flying. He started flying lessons when he was in high school, paying for the lessons working part-time jobs. He finally got his license in the late 1960’s (he was known as somewhat of a procrastinator).
Charles was a kind and gentle man who will be sadly missed by his family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Sand Castles Children’s Museum or Lakeshore Animal Friends.
The family will receive friends at Oak Grove Funeral Home, 3060 W. US 10, Ludington on Friday, January 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM with a time of sharing at 11:30 AM. A luncheon will follow directly afterwards at Oak Grove.
Please feel free to share a photo or memory with Charles’s family on his personal webpage at www.oakgrovefh.com. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home and Cremation Center.
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