John D. “Hoagy” Hoagenson

John D. “Hoagy” Hoagenson passed away January 25, 2026.
John was the son of Melvin and Cora Hoagenson and was born on March
25, 1929. He graduated from Black River Falls High School, and River Falls
State University. Following graduation, he passed a Civil Service Test and
was hired at the Travel Pay Section of the Post Finance Office at Camp
McCoy where he worked for 3 years until the end of the Korean War. He
then sold life insurance and was hired by A.C. “Bean” Hagen as a clerk in
Hagen’s Men’s Wear, eventually managing and then purchasing it. He
retired after 38 years. Hoagy was forever grateful for all of his employees
and wonderful customers through all his years in business.
He married Delone Schults of Arcadia, WI on June 5, 1987 in Sun Prairie,
WI where she was employed.
He was a lifelong member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church where he
served on the Gifts and Memorial Committee and Visitation Team.
He was also on the Board of Directors of both Riverside Cemetery and
Skyline Golf Course, and a volunteer with the Black River Memorial
Hospital Life Line program where he and his partners installed 100 units.
Hoagy was one of the original members of the Skyline Golf Course; he and
his partners played hundreds of rounds at the Skyline and fifty other
courses. His favorite achievement in golf came on the day the back nine at
Skyline opened and he was the first golfer to birdie the 18 th hole.
Hoagy was a fan of the Black River Falls Tigers, Wisconsin Badgers and
the Green Bay Packers, as well as the Chicago Cubs, and he was happy to
have lived long enough to see the Cubs win the World Series in 2016.
After his retirement, Hoagy and Delone did a lot of traveling. They went by
motor coach to the New England States, the splendid Southwest and made
two trips to Florida. They also drove to visit friends and relatives in
Colorado, Minnesota, Indiana and North Carolina.
Hoagy also enjoyed watching both college and professional football, major
league baseball and golf tournaments on TV.

Hoagy is preceded in death by his parents; brother Robert and his wife
Betty; niece Nancy; and sisters-in-law Mary Jane Walz and Marti Schultz.
He is survived by his wife; niece Donna (David) Gray of Arvada, CO and
their children Katie Rich and Kevin Gray.
Thank you to Marilyn Bishop; Paul Anderson; Clint, Jean and Andy
Helland; Dennis and Carrie Fransworth; and Pam Jones for all their help
and concern.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at
Black River Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Jenny Hatleli
officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Black River Falls.
Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 am until the time of the
service. Torgerson Funeral Home, Black River Falls is assisting the family
with arrangements.