Charles E. Hagberg

Charles E. Hagberg, lifelong Cleveland resident, passed away on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at the Green Tree Assisted Living Center in Sand Springs at the age of seventy-seven. Charles was born on August 5, 1931 in Cleveland, Oklahoma; the son of Charles F. and Pearl (Patton) Hagberg. Charles was raised and attended school in Cleveland, graduating from Cleveland High School in 1949. Upon completion of his education, Charles began working for his father at the Ben Franklin Store on South Broadway. Charles was married to Betty Lou Risinger on September 9, 1950 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The couple made their initial home in Cleveland raising four children, Marsha, Ron, Kelly and Molly. On February 12, 1952, Charles was inducted into the service of this country in the United States Air Force. After completion of basic training, Staff Sergeant Hagberg served as a radio operator for nearly three years prior to his honorable discharge on January 17, 1956. Upon his completion of active duty, Charles returned to his family in Cleveland where he returned to work at the local Ben Franklin and in 1959 became the owner of the store. Charles continued to operate Hagbergís 5 and 10 until 1984 when he closed the store. Immediately after closure of the store, Charles was licensed in the State of Oklahoma as a real estate broker and accepted employment with Gordona Ducca Real Estate in Tulsa. He later established Hagberg Realty in Cleveland which he owned and operated until he sold the company to Andy Anderson in 2000. Charles continued to sale property in the area until his retirement in 2005. Charles was a lifelong member of the First Christian Church in Cleveland. He has served in numerous capacities of the church over the years including Sunday School Superintendent as an Elder. Charles was described by his family and friends as a faithful and patriotic man whoís encouraging and humorous personality allowed him to live his life with integrity; always enthusiastic about his devotion to God, Country and Family. Regardless of the circumstances he always concluded a family vacation, trip or a project with this quote, ìGot That Over With.î He loved to fish and traveled all over the United States and Mexico with some of his friends including Ned Ball and Dixie Overman fishing. He enjoyed traveling and remembered with fondness a trip with good friend, David Billington when he was a teenager following the wheat harvest through Kansas and Nebraska in the early 1950ís. Additional memorable trips included two vacations to the Holy Land and a mission trip to the country of Georgia. His favorite music included all gospel songs and he especially enjoyed music of the Big Band Era of the 1940ís and 50ís. Charles was always active in his hometown of Cleveland and participated for many years in the Cleveland Kiwanis Club and the Cleveland Area Chamber of Commerce. He was preceded in death by his wife Betty on July 18, 1994. Charles is survived by a son, Ron Hagberg of Mannford, Oklahoma; three daughters and their husbands, Marsha and Ron Wilkerson of Jenks, Oklahoma, Kelly Jane and Mark Nosal of Little Rock, Arkansas and Molly and Bruce Waters of Fort Smith, Arkansas; five grandchildren, Jason Wilkerson, Jared Wilkerson, Aaron Waters, Sadie Nosal, Brandon Mills and Candas Mills; and five great-grandchildren, Jackson, Dylan and Wyatt Wilkerson, and Peyton and Reese Wilkerson; many other relatives and friends. In addition to his wife, Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Charles F. and Pearl Ann Hagberg. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at the First Christian Church. A live webcast of the funeral service will be provided by Chapman-Black Funeral Home for family and friends that are unable to attend the funeral service. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland.