Fred W Hagemeier

Fred W. Hagemeier joined his Heavenly Father on November 21, 2021. He was born on June 26, 1936, the oldest of three children born in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Fritz and Louis Hagemeier. He was given the gift of faith through his baptism at the Evangelical Church of Christ, Pleasant Ridge, Ohio. Fred affirmed his faith in God and was confirmed at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Norwood, Ohio.

Fred was married 63 years to Gayle Evans, also of Cincinnati. Fred and Gayle shared one heart. He bought her flowers every week and told her she was the “love of my life and the best thing that ever happened to me.” They were blessed with four children, Paul Hagemeier, Timothy Hagemeier, Ruth Hagemeier Whitney and Deborah Hagemeier Mildenburger, and four grandchildren Hannah Whitney, Noah Whitney, Christina Hagemeier and Rachel Hagemeier. He is preceded in death by his brother, Ralph and is survived by his sister, Carolyn Krass.

Fred graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri where he received a Master’s in Divinity and was ordained July 12, 1962.

Fred served Lutheran congregations in Magnolia and Logan, Iowa, and in St. Louis, Missouri, before serving for 21 years at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ft. Smith. While serving Our Redeemer he also served as Interim Pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church in Ft. Smith and Grace Lutheran Church in Clarksville, AR.

In 1971, Fred help open the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services at Fort Chaffee where he was instrumental in resettling Southeast Asians.

In 1982, Fred received his Doctorate in Education from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He became a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist. He was the first approved supervisor in Arkansas with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. He helped organize and served as president of the Arkansas Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. After retiring from Our Redeemer, Fred and Gayle opened Hagemeier Family Counseling Services which served the Ft. Smith area from 1990-2005.

Fred served his community and received numerous awards through service on the Ft. Smith Community Clearinghouse, Comprehensive Juvenile Services, the Sam Van, the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Counseling, the Arkansas Youth Suicide Prevention Commission and the Twin Lakes Literacy Council in Mountain Home, AR.

Fred was a lifelong learner, a voracious reader, an amazing gardener, baker and a talented musician. He loved teaching bible class, playing the piano and fly fishing.

Family and friends have great memories of the many ways Fred touched their lives through the living example of his faith. Fred asked that we emphasize the joy we have in Jesus because of His coming to be one of us, to suffer and to die as a payment for our sins, and then to rise again—God’s own proof that all of His promises to us are true through faith in Christ.

The final arrangements of this beloved husband, father, minister, fisherman, baker, musician and gardener are being handled by Edwards Funeral Home. Viewing will be Wednesday, November 24 from noon to 5 pm at Edwards Funeral Home, and Memorial Service will be on Friday, November 26 at 10 am at First Lutheran Church. There will be a private family Inurnment in the columbarium at Woodlawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, the Community Services Clearinghouse and Lutheran World Relief.

Online condolences may be sent to: www.edwardsfuneralhome.com