William Hagler Obituary

William (Bill) Eugene Hagler our beloved father, grandpa, and great grandpa went home
to be with Jesus on January 2, 2025 in Salinas, CA. Bill was born on December 10,
1929 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The family moved to San Francisco, CA when he was young. He had 2 sisters, Gloria
and Juanita and two brothers, Bob and Sam all of whom have passed away. Bill was
the baby of the family. Bill's wife of 64 years, Jean Elaine Hagler went to be with the
Lord in 2016. Bill and Jean had 3 children, Richard, Kate and Jack, 6 grandchildren and
15 great grandchildren.
Bill went to Roosevelt Jr High School, Poly High School and U.C. Berkeley. He was
active in student government and was the student body president in Junior High School
and High School and lost by just a few votes of being student body president at U.C.
Berkeley. He always said that he was glad that he lost because between playing varsity
basketball and track, holding down 2 jobs in addition to being the hasher at his Sigma
Chi fraternity, his plate was already full. Bill attended U.C. Berkeley from 1947-1951.
He played freshmen basketball and led the varsity team for 3 years. As a senior he was
3 rd team All American along with being Pacific 8 all-conference and MVP of his team.
Bill loved to tell the story of the time he played against Bill Russell of USF and later
Boston Celtics fame. Bill Russell was a freshman and Bill Hagler a senior. Bill Hagler
scored 29 points and Bill Russell scored 2 points in that game.
Bill went into the Air Force in 1951 after graduation and was honorably discharged as a
Captain in 1955. Bill and Jean were married on July 5, 1952. Bill continued his love for
basketball by playing for Hamilton and Travis Air Force Base teams while in the military.
Bill and Jean bought their first home in Marinwood, CA and then went on to move to
Greenbrae, CA where they raised their family. Bill worked for New York Life Insurance
beginning in 1955 and retired in 1989. He was a top salesperson and then worked for
many years as the General Manager of the San Francisco office. Bill and Jean served
Jesus as committed members and servants at several different churches in Marin
County over the years. After Bill retired, he and Jean went to Japan for a year to assist
in the gospel work there with some missionaries.
Bill also served as Little League President, Scoutmaster and loved to watch his
children's and grandchildren's various sports games and other activities. Aside from
Jesus and Jean, Bill had two other loves in life. Supporting the alumni association at
U.C.Berkeley and Lake Tahoe. Bill and Jean organized countless alumni activities over
the years. Lake Tahoe first caught Bill's fancy when as a teenager he worked as a pot
washer and later a waiter at the Brockway Hotel on the North Shore. Eventually he built
a cabin on the West Shore in Rubicon Bay in 1969. Bill and Jean and family loved
spending time there in the summer and winter. Bill loved to snow ski and finally hung
up his skis at the age of 80. He loved to ski with the family while Jean would watch all
the gear in the lodge and serve homemade lunches.
In 2015, Bill and Jean moved from their beloved Marin County to Ivy Park Assisted
Living in Salinas, CA to be near family. Bill made many friends there and enjoyed
listening to music, singing hymns, playing cards with friends, acting in plays, organizing
discussion groups and welcoming new people to the facility. Bill was always positive
and believed the best about people. When the time came for him to say goodbye to
family and friends, he was more interested in finding out about them than talking about
himself. He knew death was just a doorway to heaven that Jesus had made available
through his death and resurrection.
A celebration Service will be held at Struve & Laporte Funeral Chapel, 41 W. San Luis
St, Salinas, CA 93901 at noon on March 15, 20l5. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's
name can be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship Norcal Central Coast, 1020 Merrill
St Suite 2002, Salinas, CA 93901.