Virginia M. Hager

Virginia M. Hager, 92, Atchison, passed away, surrounded by her children, on Thursday, February 23, 2017, at the Atchison Hospital.

Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, March 3, 2017 at 10:30 A.M. at Sacred Heart Church with Rev. Jeremy Heppler, OSB as celebrant. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. A parish and Daughters of Isabella rosary will be recited on Thursday, March 2nd at 6:30 P.M. in the chapel of Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home with visitation to follow until 8:00 P.M.

Virginia was born on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1924, in Atchison, Kansas, the daughter of William C. and Elsie Jane Stickler Blair. She attended Atchison Public Schools and graduated from Atchison High School.

She and Theodore "Ted" Hager were united in marriage on May 20, 1952, at Sacred Heart Church in Atchison, Kansas. Mr. Hager preceded her in death on March 17, 2011.

Virginia was employed at KARE Radio beginning in her senior year of high school and later with Kresge's Department Store. She then became employed as a receptionist at L.F.M., resigning to raise her family at home. She returned to work when all seven children were in school to work as a payroll clerk for Rockwell International Company. She retired from Rockwell in 1985. Following retirement she continued to work part time as a Kelly girl for Rockwell.

She was a member of St. Benedict Parish, attending Sacred Heart Church for 65 years, where she was a member of the Altar Society and Daughters of Isabella. She was also a member of V.F.W. Auxiliary Post #1175 and served many years as a Girl Scout Leader. She was an avid reader all of her life and enjoyed a good mystery. Her hobby and passion was bingo and playing cards.

Survivors include two daughters, Jane (Michael) Dunn, Emporia, KS, Bonnie (Jeff) Pike, Atchison, KS, four sons, Teddy Hager, Danny (Carol) Hager, Joe Hager, Jerry Hager, all of Atchison, KS, seventeen grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren and a great-great grandson.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Anne Hager on April 22, 2015, six brothers, Chet, Bert, Roland, Richard, Clyde, Bill Blair, and two sisters, Wanda Boos and Helen Wheeler.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Atchison Library or to St. Benedict's Elementary School Endowment and may be left in care of the funeral home.