Phillip G. Haegen

Phillip G. Haegen, 90, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at his assisted living home in Spokane, Washington.

He was born on December 31, 1926, to Nellie and Noble Haegen in Trenton, Nebraska. After his graduation from Trenton High School, he joined the Army and served his country in 1945 and 1946. In January 1947, he married his high school sweetheart, and love of his life, Lena Mae Barnes. They were married 70 years and had three daughters.

Phil went to work as a civil engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in 1949 and remained with the USBR for his entire career. They lived in various places in Nebraska and moved to Page, Arizona, in 1957 to work on the Glen Canyon Dam. In 1967, the family moved to Grand Coulee, Washington, where he worked on the Grand Coulee Dam third powerplant and retired from the USBR in 1981. He and Lena Mae lived there for 47 years before moving to Spokane in 2015.

Phil loved bowling, golfing, woodworking and traveling with Lena Mae. They had over 20 years of retirement together and traveled to many places. He was an excellent carpenter and built beautiful pieces for his family and friends. He spent many hours working in his wood shop and loved every minute of it. His summers were often spent on the Lee Hemmer farm, harvesting wheat. He actually used some of his vacation leave from work, to go to work; he enjoyed working in the wheat harvest that much. It took him back to his boyhood farm roots. Phil was also instrumental in designing and building the golf course at the Banks Lake Golf & Country Club.

Phil was an honorable, respected, gentle and loving man who always put his family first and loved them beyond words. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Lena Mae; three daughters: Cindy (Doug) Fritsch, Kristy (Jim) Sooter and Kim (Steve) Pietroburgo; five grandchildren: Meghan Fritsch, Biagio and Olivia Pietroburgo, Jeff Sooter and Debbie Taylor; four great-grandchildren: Carter, Alice, Carlie and Jacklynn; and numerous nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind three sisters-in-law who loved and adored him.

He was preceded in death by a younger brother, Don, and a granddaughter, Alicelena Mae Fritsch.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, November 13, at Coulee Dam Community Church in Coulee Dam, Washington.