Joseph Joefus Scott Hagen

      To Joseph Scott Hagen, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Joseph, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Joseph really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Joseph was born on September 11, 1985 at Unity Hospital in Fridley. His parents were Sherry and Scott Hagen. Joseph was raised in Blaine, Minnesota. Even as a child, Joseph had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, he succeeded in entertaining his entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Joseph was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Joseph managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Joseph was raised with 5. He had 1 older sister Jayme and 3 younger sisters Jerrica, Justine and Jessica.

      All of Joseph's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Joseph experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in baseball. He was a boy scout. In his spare time he liked hunting and fishing. Joseph's memorable achievements included his ability to overcome adversity.

      Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Joseph was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Joseph simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Joseph, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Joseph's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Joseph graduated from Blaine High School in 2003. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was wood shop.

      Joseph never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Joseph to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Joseph delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Joseph was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Joseph utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Dustin, Alex, Pat and Andy. Later in life, he became friends with Dustin and Alex. Joseph loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Joseph very easy to approach. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Joseph related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Joseph was blessed with one, Kylie Sheppard. Joseph had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Joseph's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Joseph had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      At work, as in life, Joseph was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Joseph liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Joseph was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Joseph's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Joseph as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was fork lift driver. He was employed for many years as this.

      Joseph enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Joseph liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were hunting, fishing and his dog Rex. Joseph was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      A generous person who often wore his heart on his sleeve, Joseph often found himself involved in activities he deemed important. He was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made him a natural volunteer. Politically, Joseph was Republican and loved to argue with his older sister about this.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Joseph recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member Peace Lutheran Church.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Joseph just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included to Outer Banks of North Carolina and up north to his grandparents cabin for fishing.

      Joseph was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Joseph's favorites was Cece a samoyed. They were best friends for 10 years. His family was rounded out by his current dog Rex, Thor and Sally.

      Joseph passed away on January 25, 2021 at Mercy Hospital Coon Rapids. Joseph died of sepsis due to chronic liver and kidney failure. He is survived by his daughter Kylie, His sisters Jayme (Jeremy), Jerrica(Brandon), Justine, Jessica (Justin). Services were held at Gearhart Funeral. Joseph requested his ashed to be spread up at the hunting land he loved.

      Joseph brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Joseph Scott Hagen lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.

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Joseph Scott Hagen, age 35, of Blaine, Minnesota passed away on Monday, January 25, 2021.

He is preceded in death by his grandfather, Leo Hagen; bonus grandfather, William Gorr; and bonus sister, Amy Slefinger.

Joseph is survived by his daughter, Kylie Sheppard; grandparents, Shirley Hagen, Charles and Delores Groess, and bonus grandmother, Lulu; parents, Scott Hagen and Sherry (Steve) Glubke; bonus father, William (Denyce) Gorr; sisters, Jayme (Jeremy) Kilbo, Jerrica (Brandon) Mau, Justine Gorr, Jessica (Justin) Fischer, bonus siblings Keira and Jeff Weyker; as well as many nieces and nephews who adored him.

Everyone who knew Joe knew he was larger than life. He loved fishing, hunting, bonfires, really anything outdoors. He had a rough exterior and tried to be a tough guy but at his core, he was a huge softy with a heart of gold. Our lives will never be the same without his huge warm hugs as well as his loud and inappropriate outbursts.

Join us for a visitation on Thursday, February 4th, 2021, at Gearhart Funeral Home, 11275 Foley Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, from 4 to 8 pm. Due to the large volume of people who knew Joe, we are asking those who attend to try to limit their time so that others may rotate into the facility to say their goodbyes.

A Private Funeral will be held on Friday, February 5th, 2021, at 11:00 am. Please join us at the service through Gearhart Funeral Home Facebook Livestream. Due to COVID restrictions, only immediate family will be allowed to attend the service.

The service will be Livestreamed starting at 11:00 am to our Gearhart Facebook page at the following link : https://www.facebook.com/Gearhart-Funeral-Home-161674110524345 - This video will still be available on our page after the service for those who have missed the livestream.

Public Luncheon to follow at the VFW, 1919 Coon Rapids Blvd NW, Coon Rapids, MN, at approximately 12:15 pm.

Please leave your condolences, fond memories, messages, and photos of Joseph below. These messages and photos will be printed in a tribute book for the family later this year.