Paul Michael Hager passed away at the age of 62 in his home in Huntsville, Alabama Thursday evening, March 21, 2024. Born February 20, 1962, in Devils Lake, North Dakota, he was the fourth child to Jacob “Jack” Hager (July 17, 1930-October 5, 2006) and Agnes Katherine Hager, née Schmaltz (March 21, 1933-August 4, 1987). Paul has one older brother, Robert “Bob”, and two older sisters, Anita and Shirley Hager.
Growing up and working on the family farm, Paul spoke English and German and continued on, learning “High German” while attending Devils Lake High School. He was a member of the curling team and won the North Dakota Governor’s Award for the Arts more than once as a student. After graduation, Paul attended Moorhead State University, where he majored in Industrial Illustration and minored in Art, Computer Science, and Mass Communications, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1985. He then moved for work to New Jersey and New York before settling down in the Huntsville area, and had been employed at Intergraph since 1990, working most recently as a Senior Technical Consultant.
There in Alabama, he met and adopted his two children, Braden and Madison, and over the years coached soccer teams, taped recitals and sports camps, taught them how to play Pinochle, and encouraged them to be their best. A longtime member of CrossPointe Church, he was known by all as a devoted dad, beloved brother, and dear friend. Paul was a man of many interests, and throughout his life he enjoyed yoga, hiking, tennis, ballroom dancing, and countless other activities, having competed and won tournaments in Las Vegas for billiards as well as completing the New York City Marathon. He had a well-known love for travel, and visited at least 50 countries in his life, frequently cruising in his final years, until his last trip, taken in February of this year with his son.
Paul lived an adventurous, full life and is survived by his son, Braden Hager; his daughter, Madison Cooper and her husband, Tyler; brother, Robert “Bob” Hager; sisters, Anita and Shirley Hager; nephew, John Coyle and wife, Macinze and their three daughters, Gracie, Kate, and Jane; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins whom Paul loved dearly and kept in continuous contact with throughout his life.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home beginning at 10:30 a.m. Friends are invited to join the family for a time of visitation from 10 to 10:30 a.m.
On behalf of our family, we would like to thank Paul’s friends and family for their love and companionship, his doctors and staff for the care provided during his final stages, and everyone who has reached out to express their sympathies, pay respects, and say goodbye.
