John J. Hager

John J. Hager, age 82, of Fountain City, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2026 at Benedictine Manor in La Crosse.

He was born on December 11, 1943, at the home of his parents, Elmer and Dorothy (Maassen) Hager in Jahn’s Valley, Buffalo County, WI. John attended grade school in Cream, WI and then attended Alma Area Schools, graduating from Alma High School with the class of 1961. In John’s younger years, he worked for several local area farmers.

On September 26, 1964, John married Cleo Rose Fetting at Hope United Church of Christ in Cochrane. While residing with his family in Beloit, John was employed for several years as a machinist with Fairbanks Morris. Then, in 1975, he and his family relocated to Buffalo City and later moved to Fountain City, where he resided ever since. After moving back to Buffalo County, 

John worked for H & F Roettinger contractors in Cochrane and retired from Tri-mac Lumber in Winona. Following his retirement, John started his own mechanical design company, Hager’s D & S, where he helped create building plans for residential homes.

John proudly volunteered with the fire departments in Beloit and, later, Fountain City. 

He loved the outdoors, and in his earlier years, enjoyed deer hunting or time on the water fishing. As time went on, John loved taking car rides through the bluffs of Buffalo County counting deer along the way. Lately, he enjoyed a quiet stroll through Merrick State Park with his wife, Cleo, just to watch the squirrels, the birds and all the wildlife nature provided. 

John will be sadly missed by his wife, Cleo; children, Heidi (Al) Klinnert, Tammy (Mark) Andring and John (Kathy) Hager; grandchildren, Tera (Jim) Hansen, Aric (Meghan) Adams, Tymissa (Shawn) Adams, Trista Hager, Cole (Megan) Klinnert, Elizabeth (Mike) Erickson, Leah, Kaili and Dylan Hager; great grandchildren, Aric, Hadlee, Kinsley, Braiden, Christopher, Jacob, Joseph, Annabelle and Ryleigh; sister, Donna Kulig; brother, Arnold Hager; also by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.Besides his parents, 

John was preceded in death by his brother, Carrol Hager.A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM at Talbot Family Funeral Home, Alma Chapel. Inurnment will follow at Buffalo City Cemetery. 

A memorial gathering will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 10:00 AM until the hour of the service. 

Please share a memory of John or express your words of sympathy for his family at www.talbotfuneralhomes.com