Melba Marie Hagen, 94 of Lake Mills, died Monday, July 15, 2013, at the Lake Mills Care Center in Lake Mills.

A memorial service will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Salem Lutheran Church with the Rev. David E. Jordon officiating.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 E. Main St. in Lake Mills and again one hour prior to the service at the church.

Inurnment will take place at Salem Memorial Cemetery in Lake Mills.

Melba Marie Hagen, 94, was born to Peter A. and Marie (Treslan) Dahlby on Dec. 2, 1918, in Joice. She spent her childhood years growing up and attending school in the Joice area.

On May 15, 1938, Melba married Julian Hagen, also of Joice. Julian and Melba made their home in Joice and two children were born there, Warren and Judy. In 1943, Julian entered military service in the Army/Air Force, leaving Melba on her own with the two small children. Upon Julian’s return from military service in December 1945, the family made their home in Lake Mills. Three more children were born, Penny, Jan and Jay.

Melba spent her life as Julian’s partner and helpmate as well as being a full-time mother to her five children. When her children were young she volunteered as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader, as well as a Sunday school teacher, Tuesday school teacher and preschool teacher. Melba was an active quilter at Salem Lutheran Church where she was a member for 70 years. She was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Lake Mills for 50 years. In 1958, Julian and Melba purchased a fishing resort in Canada where they spent their summers for 19 years, returning to their home in Lake Mills for the winter months. At the resort, Melba worked as the cook, the laundry person, cabin cleaner and hostess. She was also the ever-willing babysitter and a source of endless love and entertainment for her grandchildren. Her specialty was sharing her love of nature and the outdoors with young people.

Melba is survived by her children, Warren and Coral Hagen, Judy Levine Meyer and Jim Fagerness, all of Lake Mills, Homer and Penny Peterson of Scarville, Iowa, Jan and Lynn Berven of Albert Lea and Jay and Cindy Hagen of Thompson, Iowa; brother and sisters-in-law Grace Dahlby of Northwood, Vernon and Carole Hagen of Lake Mills and Dorothy Hagen Hanna of Joice; 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great-grandchildren.

Melba was preceded in death by her parents; her father- and mother-in-law, Jens and Elizabeth Hagen; her husband, Julian; her grandson, Ryan Peterson; her son-in-law, Wayne Meyer; her brothers and sisters and brothers- and sisters-in-law Daniel and Eleanor Dahlby, Thelma Beatrice Dahlby, Thelma Lorraine Dahlby, Evelyn and Truman Thoen, Aaron Dahlby, Vivian and Harold Hanna, Ole and Bernice Almelien, Hubert and Gladys Hagen, Norman and Louise Hagen, Earl Hagen and Avis Hagen Graves.

To contact the family with condolences visit www.mittelstadtfuneralhome.com. Mittelstadt Funeral Home can be reached at 641-592-0221.