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Avis Barz Hagen

1921 - 2014

May 20, 1921 - January 6, 2014

Klemme, IA - Avis (Barz) Hagen, 92, of Klemme, most recently a resident of the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood, died Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at the Lutheran Retirement Home, surrounded by her loving children. Avis joined her husband Eldon in Heaven on what would have been their 68th wedding anniversary. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10, 2014, at the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ, Klemme. The Reverend Donna Buckman will be officiating. Burial will be in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at the Andrews Funeral Home, 528 East Main St., Klemme, and continues one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Avis' name may wish to consider the Immanuel Reformed UCC Church of Klemme or the Lutheran Retirement Home, Northwood, IA.

Avis Barz, the daughter of Henry and Clara (Born) Barz, was born May 20, 1921, on the family farm in rural Klemme. As a young lady she was baptized and confirmed in her lifelong church, the Immanuel Reformed UCC in Klemme. Avis attended Klemme School, graduating from Klemme High School in the Class of 1938. Following high school she attended Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls. She continued her education at Hamilton Business College in Mason City in 1943.

In the early years of her adult life Avis was employed with the Telephone Company and Thada's General Store, both in Klemme. She eventually commenced her lifelong career in the banking profession at the 1st National Bank in Klemme. Her loyalty and devotion to the customers was shown through her tenure with the bank that continued until her retirement at the age of 76. In all her many years at the bank she only missed one day of work, which was a great testimony to her diligence and perseverance in all that she did. Avis knew the customers on a first-name basis and made it a point to go above and beyond in all that she did for them. She would help them keep their financial records in order and often times would take their checking and other accounts home with her to insure all was in order on her own time. She was the epitome of what customer service is truly about.

In the 1940's Avis and her girlfriends made one of their outings to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, where she met her future husband and life partner, Eldon Hagen. Avis was united in marriage to Eldon in 1946 at the Immanuel Reformed Church in Klemme. The couple's union was blessed with four children, Robert, Nancy, Mary Lou and Cheri Sue. They farmed and raised their family in rural Klemme during most of their entire life journey together with the exception of one year in Hanlontown, Iowa. Eventually, they moved to the Prairie View Retirement Apartments, Garner, Iowa, in 2005, where they lived until moving to the Lutheran Retirement Home in Northwood over three years ago.

Avis's life focus was aimed entirely upon her family, her faith and her friends. She was always more concerned about the needs of others and unselfishly put their needs and wants before her own. She carried this undying devotion to those around her up until the last days of her life as she would often question her family and caregivers, "What can I do for you?" She showed an amazing and unending love for all humankind. She always wanted to ease the burdens of others and went out of her way to try and accomplish that goal. She absolutely relished the roles of being a wife, mother and grandmother. Her children recall mom always being there to support them in all that they did.

In earlier years of her life she enjoyed crocheting, a love that later gave way to her passion for games with her family and friends. She looked forward to friendly competitions with the grandkids playing games such as Rack-O, Hand and Foot and board games. She also enjoyed Rummy, a heated battle of Dominoes, or the mental challenges of working puzzle books and word searches. The grandkids reflect fondly on eating her mouthwatering homemade chocolate chip cookies, often referred to as "Avis Cookies." Her baking and cooking skills were also known far and wide as she would often make Maple Nut and Chocolate Angel Food cakes for various events and occasions and most certainly people would search these delights out among the other goodies.

Her grandkids also have wonderful memories of outings with Avis and Eldon to area parades and other summertime events and, of course, helping grandma with the sweet corn. A priceless memory of Avis and Eldon's children and grandchildren was a family trip to Disney World in 1996, an occasion that created memories that will last a lifetime. In addition to her focus on her family, Avis still found time to give of her time and talents to her church and the community. Her church life roles included serving as Youth Group leader, Sunday School and Bible School teacher, participating in the church ladies organizations and singing in the church choir. Her love for her community of Klemme, its residents and the youth of the area was shown in her times spent serving on the Klemme Centennial Committee, helping with many elections over the years, serving as Grand Marshall of the Klemme Ag Days, and for much of her life she had participated in the Klemme Grandmother's and Potpourri Clubs.

During the last three and one half years she enjoyed participating in the many activities and events at the Lutheran Retirement Home. Following Eldon's passing away in November 2011, she continued to remain active at the home and looked forward to the festivities of the day. The staff and residents there also cherished daily interactions with Avis as her terrific and welcoming communications with them always made their days brighter. The family truly thanks the staff and residents of the home for their love, devotion, caring and acts of kindness shown to Avis over the years. Even though Avis was always more concerned for all others' well-being, the family knows that her care was in loving hands.

Those who had the privilege of crossing in the gentle footsteps of the pathway of Avis' life journey will remember her as a dignified lady whose heart was larger than her being. Her joyful and friendly demeanor, the twinkle in those eyes and that warm and welcoming smile will live on forever. All who knew her will remember her always positive attitude, undying giving of herself for the betterment of others and her true enjoyment of the simple things that life had to offer.

Her legacy will burn brightly in the hearts and minds of her son, Bob Hagen, Lake Mills, Iowa; daughters, Nancy Howe, Chandler, Ariz., and Mary Lou Clement, Garner, Iowa; her seven grandchildren, Matt Hagen, Des Moines Iowa; Jenna Hagen, Forest City Iowa; Mike Howe, Tempe, Ariz., and Jessica (Garis) McCutcheon, Missouri City Texas; Nikki Clement, New York City, N.Y.; Katie (Matt) Pronk, Chicago Ill., and Alex Clement and fiancé Nichole Dempsey, Mason City Iowa; her great-granddaughter, Anna Pronk, Chicago Ill.; sister-in-law, Ihla Barz, Garner, Iowa; brother-in-law, Ray (Lavonne) Hagen, Forest City, Iowa, and sisters-in-laws, Gloria Hagen, Mason City, Iowa, Donna Hagen, Northwood, Iowa, and Clarice Hagen, Northwood, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Eldon, daughter, Cheri Sue, brothers, Elmer, Raymond, Evert and Allen, daughter-in-law, Jody Hagen, nephews, brothers-in-law, Irvin, Marlin and Harold Hagen, and sisters-in-law, Viola and Gladys Barz, and nephews Dan Barz and Terry Hagen. Andrews Funeral Home, Klemme, IA.


source: Mason City Globe Gazette, 9 Jan 2014

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