Ricky Lee “Chief” Hagen
Ricky Lee “Chief” Hagen passed away on June 29, at 1:21 p.m. at his residence in Winamac.
He was born Oct. 22, 1961, in Logansport, to Freddie Junior Hagen and Dorothy (Stellter) Hagen.
On June 14, 1980, he married Kathi Riley. They had a daughter Mia together.
On Aug. 5, 1988, Ricky married Cynthia (Marsh) Hagen who had three sons, Joe, Erik and Daniel, from a previous marriage, and later they had a daughter Hope of their own.
He was employed at Good Oil Company for several years. He also worked at the Star City grain elevator. In his time here he loved being with his family, going hunting and fishing and shooting guns. He was always using his hands building something every day. He also worked at McGrath Refrigeration and at Richard Gumz Farms, and doing odd jobs until it was time to retire. He will always be remembered as “Mr. Fix It!”
His motto was “It’s my way or the highway!” All his grandchildren will always remember their tractor rides on Papa Rick’s blue tractor. He loved to walk around his property looking at everything that he and Cindy had worked so hard to build.
Ricky and Cindy had 26 years together, they raised their children their own ways. They always managed to get through what life threw at them, and this is the lesson their children learned from them. Ricky and Cindy always believed they needed to keep going and never give up. Ricky fought to the end until he couldn’t fight anymore.
Ricky donated his remains to an organization called “A Gift of Hope” to help others have a chance to have another day with their loved ones. We are very grateful to have had such a strong father and husband who will still be helping others with his generous gift. Life has no manual especially when a loved one has cancer. Ricky always showed us that if we just believed and fight every day that things would be alright. He fought very hard to keep going until the end. He loved his wife, his children, grandchildren, his family and his friends very dearly. We all loved him very much and we always will. We will miss you, Ricky, until we will see you again one day.
Ricky is survived by his wife Cindy (Marsh) Hagen of Winamac; mother Dorothy (Stellter) Hagan of Winamac; sons: Joseph [Ariel Blount] Budka of Winamac, Erik [Whitney] Budka of Winamac, and Daniel Budka of Winamac; daughters: Mia [Kevin] Salyers of Winamac, and Hope [Adam] Kestle of Winamac; 11 grandsons and one on the way; five granddaughters; brother John [Dawn] Hagen of Winamac; sister-in-law Cathy Becker Hagen of Burnettsville; cousin Linda Lizenby of Plymouth; three nieces; and three nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father Freddie Junior Hagen; and brother Rodney Hagen.
A celebration of life service will be scheduled at a later date.
Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com.