Warren Julius Hagestuen

Celebration of life at 10:00 am visitation followed by 11:00 am service and lunch Saturday, November 22, 2025, East Zion Lutheran Church, 28745 County Road 10, Starbuck, MN 56381. Visitation: 5-7 pm Friday, November 21, 2025, Starbuck Funeral Home, 106 West 4th Street, Starbuck, MN 56381. 

Warren Hagestuen peacefully passed away on Monday, November 10, 2025 at Holly Ridge Manor in Starbuck, MN, after a brave battle with congestive heart failure and Parkinson’s disease. To his final days, he was joyful, appreciative and kind to all around him with a gentle smile and always a quick “thank you”.

Warren was born in Starbuck, MN on June 13, 1939, to Julius and Adeline Hagestuen. His boyhood favorite activities were riding his horse, Dixie, going fishing and hunting with his best friend Luther Tollefson and neighbor David Tollefson. Another favorite past-time was teasing his siblings, particularly his older brother, Burnell.

He graduated in 1957 from Starbuck High School. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN majoring in Biology. While there, he sang in the prestigious Concordia Concert Choir and found his life-long partner Virginia Otto. They married on May 25, 1962 in Moorhead, MN.

After finishing his undergraduate degree, he went on to graduate school at Texas Tech earning a Master’s Degree in Biology in preparation for his future teaching profession.

Warren’s high school student teaching job brought them to Warren, MN where their first daughter, Kari, was born. After finishing student teaching, Warren accepted a full-time position in Osseo, MN and when Park Center High School opened in 1971, moved to Park Center as a Biology teacher.

During his 40+ years of teaching, he spent the majority on the Park Center teaching staff, served as the Science Department Head for decades, attended the Minnesota Educators Association National Meetings, sang in the Waste Basket Review and managed the Park Center auditorium. The staff and students loved him because of his dedication and kindness for people.

Warren’s faith was a central part of his life as they attended Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Brooklyn Park for many years. At Prince of Peace, Warren sang in the choir and was a church board member.

In retirement, they moved back to the Hagestuen family farm in Starbuck, MN where Warren served on the East Zion Lutheran Church council as member and president, the Blue Mounds township board, the Minnewaska Lutheran Home board and the local garden club. He also enjoyed caring for multiple horses, many of which were “donated” to him. He had many dear friends and family nearby and loved them all.

Preceded in death by parents Julius and Adeline, brother Burnell Hagestuen (Ruby Aaberg and Doris) and sister Ruth Hagestuen (Bonnie Nash) and sister Shirley. Survived by wife Virginia, daughters Kari Perreault (Mike) and Krissy Gray (Peter), grandkids Eric Perreault (Lexi), Leah Tousignant (Frank), John and Henry Gray, great grandkids Sawyer and Maverick Tousignant, sisters Dorothy Knutson and Joan Suckow (Harold).

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to East Zion Lutheran Church or St. Francis Center for equine-assisted psychotherapy.

Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in care of the arrangements for Warren.