Hageman Christmas (either one): (l-r) Francis Hageman, Helen (Hageman) Dietzenbach, and Marie (Hageman) Brincks are all children of August and Theresa Hageman. They grew up together on a farm between Festina and Calmar and celebrated many memorable Christmases together as a family.

Christmas fondly remembered

Brian Smith
Contributing Writer
bsmith@fayettepublishing.com

            One of the best things about Christmas is the memories we have from Christmases past. Whether it was a special toy that we received as a child, a tradition we participated in with our family, or a gift that we were able to give someone else, there are certain things that just seem to stand out to us around this time of year.

For Francis Hageman, Helen (Hageman) Dietzenbach, and Marie (Hageman) Brincks, growing up on a farm in rural northeast Iowa created many such memories that stand out in their minds to this day.

            Francis, Helen, and Marie are three of the nine children born to August and Theresa Hageman, who lived on a small farm between Festina and Calmar. They are currently all residents at Ossian Senior Hospice. Their memories of day-to-day life include doing numerous chores, walking two or three miles to school, and socializing with their neighbors for entertainment.

See the complete story in the Dec. 25 issue of The Ossian Bee or by purchasing our e-edition!