Clarence Eugene “CH” Hagstrom, Jr., 78, of Lincoln died Friday morning, February 28, 2025, at Pemberly Place in Lincoln. He was born on April 25, 1946, in Wahoo. CH attended kindergarten in Savannah IL, Ithaca NE, and again in Savannah IL; first grade through half of fifth grade in Lincoln NE; then finished fifth grade and attended North Kansas City schools graduating from North Kansas City, MO High School in 1964. He completed a B.A. in English and Journalism at Midland College, Fremont, then attended U.S. Marine Corps Officer Candidate School and U.S. Marine Corps Basic Officer School, Quantico VA, and studied graduate-level English, Physical Education, and Teacher Education as well as Library/Media at the University of Houston, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Upon completion of his Bachelor’s degree in 1968, he accepted a commission as a Marine Second Lieutenant, subsequently serving in combat as an infantry Platoon Commander and Executive Officer for Company “I,” Third Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, First Marine Division, and as a First Lieutenant he was Officer-in-Charge of the Combat Operations Center and Liaison Officer to the ARVN Ranger battalion assigned to the Fifth Regiment, all at An Hoa, Viet Nam. Returning from southeast Asia to Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA, CH served as Platoon Commander and company Executive Officer for Schools Demonstration Troops, training new Marine officers for combat, followed by a tour as Aide-de-Camp to BGen Charles D. Mize, Commanding General, MCB, Quantico, and finally completed his active duty as a Captain and Platoon Commander and Tactics Instructor at The Basic School. Awarded the Bronze Star with combat “V,” Captain Hagstrom separated from the Marine Corps in 1973.  On June 6, 1970 he married Marjorie Eilers at the St. John Lutheran Church in Sterling. 

CH began his career in education teaching at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory High School, Houston, subsequently teaching at Norris High School, Firth, Centura High School, Cairo, serving as Assistant Director of Admissions, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, and teaching and serving as Library/Media Specialist at Northwest High School, Grand Island, Tecumseh High School, and Lincoln Christian School, before retiring in 2006. He was an assistant boys’ basketball coach at Strake Jesuit and Norris, head boys’ basketball coach at Centura, an assistant men’s basketball coach at Wesleyan, head girls’ basketball coach at Tecumseh, assistant women’s basketball coach at Peru State College, and an assistant girls’ basketball coach at Johnson-Brock High School. He finished his coaching career as head girls’ basketball coach at Lincoln Christian.

Officiating sports also occupied much of CH’s time. He officiated in five decades, 1960’s-2000’s: men’s and women’s basketball at the high school and college levels, baseball and men’s slow- and fast-pitch softball, as well as collegiate softball.  He retired from NCAA Division I competition after ten years and seven regional championship assignments.

CH and his bride, Marj, moved to her family’s farm in rural Sterling in 1999 serving as caregivers to Marj’s parents, Martin and Bertha (Hestermann) Eilers, and CH’s mother, Catherine.  They also cared for an aunt, Leone Elliott Hagstrom. In 2020 they moved to Lincoln.

In retirement, CH led Bible studies at Gold Crest Retirement Center and taught Sunday School Bible classes in addition to transcribing weekly sermons for several years at Faith Bible Church, Lincoln.

A lover of sports, CH participated in baseball, basketball, bowling, football, softball, and track. He also closely followed the Kansas City Royals, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, especially softball, football, and volleyball.

CH is survived by his wife of almost 55 years, Marjorie Ruth (Eilers) Hagstrom of Lincoln; two daughters, Angela Hagstrom Frederick and her husband, Kurt of Omaha, and Elizabeth Anne Hagstrom Barstow and her husband, Sean of San Jose CA; four grandchildren, Katherine Anne “Kate” Barstow and Liam Wallace Barstow of San Jose, and Lily Marie Frederick and Daisy Jane Frederick of Omaha; sister-in-law, Carolyn (Dareld) Weber of Sterling; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Eugene Hagstrom, Sr. and Catherine (Hendrickson) Hagstrom; sister, Deanna (Hagstrom) Fisher Arning; parents-in-law, Martin and Bertha Eilers.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at the Faith Bible Church, 6201 S 84th St, Lincoln, with Pastor Brad Myers officiating.  Burial will be at 1:30 P.M. on March 15th at the Sterling Cemetery with military rites.  Visitation with the family will be held on Friday, March 14, 2025, from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at Faith Bible Church in Lincoln.  The casket will be closed.  In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Nebraska Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  Zink-Fox Funeral Home of Sterling is in charge of the arrangements.