James M. "Jim" Hagan
September 29, 1944 ~ January 26, 2022
James M. Hagan “Jim” passed away to be with our Lord on January 26, 2022. He was born to Josephine Lies Hagan and Dr. Francis James Hagan on September 29, 1944. He was the oldest of eight children (Kathleen Frushour, Michael Hagan, Corinne Kelly, Ned Hagan, Emilie Hagan, Stephen Hagan, Mary Jo Hagan). After graduating from Chaplain Kapaun Memorial High School and St. Louis University, then acquiring a teaching license from Pittsburg State, he began teaching 8th grade science at Maize Middle School. He taught there for 39 years, also coaching high school wrestling, junior high football and then later starting up junior high school wrestling. He was also a farmer, elected official, and constant tinkerer in his spare time. He kept up with many of his friendships from earlier years at CKM High School, especially with the championship baseball team of 1963.Jim married his wife Sharon in 1984. They raised six children: Catherine (David) Bruno, Betty (Jacob) Johnston, Theresa (Isaac) Meier, John (Amanda) Hagan, Joe (Hannah) Hagan, and Monica (Jeff) Poe. He will be remembered for his work ethic, quiet strength, and persistent quizzing of family and friends.He was a man of simple pleasures: a good football game, a well written newspaper article, and having a beer while watching the sunset over the farm. His greatest delights in recent years were taking his twelve grandchildren for rides on his little red tractor, digging potatoes, and collecting chicken eggs with them. His grandchildren include: Russell and Dominic Bruno, Isabella, Madeline, and James Johnston, Maxwell Meier, Amelia and Matthew Hagan, Annie and Henry Hagan, Charlotte and Jason Poe.Rosary and Viewing will be at 7:00 pm, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022; Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 am, Thursday, February 3, 2022, both at Church of the Resurrection. Memorials have been established with Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School and Catholic Charities of Wichita.Services in care of Downing and Lahey Mortuary - East Chapel.
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Rest in peace coach Hagan. As my 8th grade science teacher, junior high football coach and high school wrestling coach, you made a lasting impression on me with your work ethic and sense of humor, which included you constantly pronouncing my last name wrong on purpose.
That sounds like my dad! Thank you Shane! He was so excited for Maize wrestling this year!
He inspired my love of science and is the reason I work the field today. A tough and fair teacher we were lucky to have him pass through our lives.
Thank you, Curtis. I have heard very similar comments from many former students. I also recall a student say she never had to work so hard to get a “C”, but really learned a lot.
My memory of Jim will always be of him pulling his grandkids and friends’ children with the compact tractor around the farm. I appreciate how he always treated me as family. He will be greatly missed.
He absolutely loved doing it! He even started teaching the 12 year old grandchildren how to drive it. It brought such fun and delight to everyone..
Sharon and family, I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Thank you, Missy. This has been a tough week. I had been preparing for him to get back home. Covid left its mark.
This was taken Nov. 19 at the Maize vs Kapaun game. Chris Pruitt and Brian Parker ran into Mr. Hagan and Mr. Dent there and had a nice visit.
Sharon, Catherine, Betty, Theresa, John, Joe and Monica. I am so sorry for your loss. When I was little and was “on vacation” at the farm, Jimmy was always working. More recently we met up with him with in NYC with Corinne and visited the 911 memorial with him. Gosh he was a hoot to be with. All my prayers and love are sent your way. Madeleine Hagan Reilly
Thank you Madeleine. Dad loved his “St.Louis cousins.”
Madeline, your family has always had a special friendship with Jim and all of us. Thank you. We send our love to you.
Sharon and family, Ann and I are so sad for your loss. We are so thankful that we got to visit with you and Jim at your house a couple years ago. It was clear that Jim was enjoying his life on the “farm”, family, and friends. Even though it was long long ago, I was one of the many people Jim had a positive lifelong impact on. Whenever I saw him at a Maize event we always “connected” to see how each was doing. He will truly be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are for you and your family, Mark and Ann Fox.
I loved working with Jim at Maize/South Middle School. I especially enjoyed his wit, and endless knowledge about everything when we shared lunchroom duty. He was the consummate gentleman and I loved getting that “tongue click sound” for his hello every day! Rest In Peace “Edison” ❤️ Pat Finger
I am so glad Mr Hagan and I connected on Facebook. This man had a genuine love for the kids he taught. To his children and his wife my prayers are with you. Fly high my teacher who turned friend you will be missed!
Sharon, family, and Dr. Stephan Hagan:
I am so sorry for your loss. Jim was a significant mentor to me in middle school and high school. He was my 8th grade science teacher, and my junior high football and wrestling coach. Throughout high school he would check in on me and root for me during sporting events. I already had a love for science and wanted to know how everything works. He encouraged me to pursue that curiosity and I entered the healthcare field for my career. Rest assured that I am not the only student or athlete that he had a profound impact!
Rest in Peace Coach Hagan!
Coach Hagen holds a special place in my memories. The only advice I ever remember him giving me in wrestling was when I was literally walking out to start my State Finals wrestling match, “Don’t give up the single-leg.” It worked, I won 5-3.
Coach and Teacher Hagan was a great mentor to students and members of his football and wrestling teams. A blessed man who blessed others.
Thoughts and Prayer to your family. God Bless
What a good man.
I enjoyed my monthly energy meetings with Jim that came with a thorough analysis and a dose of Junior High Science. My favorite was the occasional post-it-note reminding me to turn off what I wasn’t using! He will always be one of my favorites.
I had Mr. Hagan for both 7th and 8th grade science. At the time I was scared of him and did my very best to not get in trouble in his class….but then years later I taught alongside Jim and realized what a delightful sense of humor he had. He also had a good heart….years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest Jim noticed I had to stop and rest to catch my breath on my way to the office…..so a chair showed up outside his classroom just so I could sit to rest.
Mr. Hagan was a valuable constant for me at Maize. In Junior High Science, I sat directly in front of him for two years (of course we sat in alphabetical order). He coached the first and last days of my athletics starting with Jr. High football and wrestling through High School wrestling. When I watched and listened to this quiet gentleman, I learned a lot. . . and not just about science or sports. He offered so many hours to me and his other students and athletes. The best tribute I can offer: Some lessons I learned from him have been passed down to my kids. To this day, win or lose, a post-match handshake with Coach Hagan is a cherished memory. Scott Barger, MHS 1987
Sharon and family, So very sorry for your loss of Jim. I know how very much you will all miss him. Please know that you will be in my thoughts and prayers.