William Arthur Hagen, Jr.

William Arthur "Bill" Hagen died on March 17, 2011 in Loveland, Colorado. He was 87 years old. Bill was born on July 5, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan, to William and Mae Scannell Hagen. He graduated from Lawrence Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. He later earned a Masters Degree from the University of Alabama, and in 1992, a PhD in Behavioral Psychology from the University of Peru Lima. Bill married Lilian "Boots" Abrolat on January 27, 1945. They were married for 63 years. She preceded him in death in 2008. During World War II, Bill served in the 102nd AACS Detachment, U.S. Army Air Corps. He worked in technical communications for Air Traffic Control, and also as an Air Tower Chief. After his military service, Bill worked as an engineer for a variety of companies in Europe and the southeastern U.S. He was a licensed engineer in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama, and a registered architect in North Carolina. In 1960, as the "Space Race" began, he worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA, in Huntsville, Alabama. His NASA team designed rocket engines, and later, the Lunar Rover. The team also tested engines for the Apollo Mission. Bill's final position with NASA was in solar energy research. Bill retired from NASA in the early 1980s. He became an independent consultant and adjunct professor for the University of Alabama. He traveled all over the world with Boots. In 1996, Bill and Boots moved to Good Samaritan Village of Loveland. His new friends called him "Doc." Doc offered his technical expertise in upgrading the computer center, taught Tai Chi, and was an advocate for Seniors in the City of Loveland. He participated in many new-start programs at Good Sam. Bill and Boots made many dear friends. Bill was an accomplished guitarist; he performed with jazz bands and big bands in his younger years. He was also an avid Ham Radio Operator. He devoted entire rooms to his electronic equipment. William Hagen is survived by son Glenn Hagen and wife Cindy of Highlands Ranch; daughter Joy Ikelman and husband Ike of Longmont; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Cremation was entrusted to Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Over the years, Bill had often requested that no memorial service be held after his death. On March 19, 2011, Bill took his place next to Boots in the Memorial Garden of Good Samaritan Village, with Pastor Dave Castner leading in prayer and gratitude for a life well-lived. The family requests that donations in Bill's memory be made to Pathways Hospice, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, CO 80524.