R.I.P. 2013

Harold “Kip” Hagen Jr., 62, of Tafton, Pa., passed away early Saturday morning at home. Kip was born Nov. 15, 1951, in Scranton, Pa., to Harold “Bud” and Helen Buschmann Hagen. … Kip graduated from La Salle University in Philadelphia in 1973 and began a wonderful career with the National Park Service in 1976. In 1997, he returned to the Scranton area to work at Steamtown National Historic Site and in 2002 became superintendent. … Kip was a loving husband to his wife, Donna, married in 2002. Kip was also a devoted father to his son Jim (and wife Emily) of Baltimore, Md.; his daughter, Sarah of Berkeley, Calif.; and his step-daughter, Ashley (and husband John) of Washington, D.C. Kip was a cherished brother to Nancy (and husband Keith) of Center Harbor, N.H.; and most specially, Kip was “Pop Pop” to Peter, Isabel and Grace; and Uncle Kip to many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Kathleen Robinson.

An avid boater, fisherman and snowmobiler, Kip and Donna enjoyed living on Lake Wallenpaupack and vacationing on the eastern shore of Virginia. When Kip wasn’t renovating historic homes or restoring antique boats, their favorite memories were made spending time with family and friends — especially at Ehrhardt’s Restaurant in Hawley.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks for donations in Kip’s name to the Locomotive Restoration Fund, which will work with Steamtown National Historic Site to continue the restoration of the 3713 Boston & Maine Locomotive, a project Kip was very dedicated to: Locomotive Restoration Fund, Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Railway Historic Society, PO Box 3452, Scranton PA 18505.

For online condolences, go to www.duffyandsnowdon.com.

From obituary in Scranton Times on Dec. 17, 2013