Skip Hauger Eulogy
Lloyd Carlton “Skip” Hauger was born in Roseau, MN, November 26, 1942, and passed away at Perry Lutheran home in Perry, Iowa on July 8, 2021. Nobody knows how or why he was called “Skip”, but it was part of his identity all these years. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 12, 2021, at Zion Lutheran Church, 4300 Beaver Ave, Des Moines, IA. Visitation will start at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Graveside will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 15, 2021, at Nordland Lutheran Church Cemetery near Rutland, North Dakota.
He leaves behind his wife of 35 years, Louise; daughter, Kim (Matt) McCain and her family – Devin (Cody) Walter, Bryce, stepdaughter, Clarissa (Andrew) Brothers and her family, Elijah; son, Shawn (Christy) and his family – Grant, Alex and Cole and stepdaughter, Erika Wigdahl (Jeremy Cunningham) and her family – Savannah and Abigayle Dunbar, Landon Cunningham, siblings, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Memorials may be made to Christian Worship Hour or Perry Lutheran Home.
Skip attended grade school and high school in Badger, MN. He was involved in many activities in church, 4H, baseball and track. Some of the highlights for him were the Luther League trip to Miami, FL and Washington DC. In Miami, he heard Martin Luther King, Jr speak. In Washington DC, Jim Christianson and he climbed the steps to the top of Washington Monument but they took the elevator down; in Smithsonian they made comments about the short pants the founding presidents wore until they realized they wore short pants and knee high socks. He also took trips with his Grandpa, Grandma and Aunt Helen Burkee to Rapid City, SD, Minneapolis, MN and Montana.
In 4H, he raised sheep for competition at the County Fair. One year the sheep came in late so he decided to grow a garden. His Grandmother helped him out by pulling the weeds out of the garden just before the tour of his garden and they were impressed how clean it was.
You who knew him in his younger years can vouch for the jokester he was – in class Ted Peterson and he got together and decided to drop the pipes and create a clanging sound. Teacher couldn’t figure out why this class was the only class that was noisy. Ted Peterson said he knew why – the first class and the water was heating up. The teacher believed them! Another time the class was in a park and when they were serving lunch – Skip and Clark Johnson were quite a ways back in line when Skip saw a small garner snake crawling across their path. Yep Skip said it is their ticket to lunch, he put the snake into his side pocket with its head sticking out and then tapped the person in front of him. When he saw the snake he hollered and all of the line cleared out so Skip and Clark walked to the front of the line. I’m sure many of you can remember more of the jokes he played.
His working careers – Mechanic for a member on the Polaris Racing Team, Gas Station Manager, and Red Owl Produce Manager. In 1972 he went to school to become an Optician. He worked in the Optical field for 30 years starting out as Optician, Lab Manager and later a Sales Rep selling eyewear to Optometrists and dispensaries. While he was a sales rep, Skip & Louise attended a thank you get together for selling Sophia Loren’s eyewear. What an exciting evening – Sophia Loren was so down to earth, she came to every table and talked with us if we were her best friends. We had our picture taken with her and Skip had his arm around her. He tells everyone that he hasn’t washed his arm since.
Since he never knew a stranger, he was a very successful rep. A highlight of his optical career was the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Durango, Mexico. Skip said it was exciting to see the people that were dispensed glasses to light up with a big smile!! Amazing! After retirement he used his God given skills to become a care giver for Home Instead and later worked for himself. He always had a story to tell and people enjoyed him.
Skip and Louise enjoyed traveling to Mazatlán, Switzerland, Calgary and Banff, Canada, Este Park, Colorado and Rapid City, SD, Sarasota, Melbourne and Disney World, FL and many trips to North Dakota and Minnesota visiting family and friends.
He enjoyed trips with his grandchildren – Boone Train ride, Omaha Zoo, Rapid City – Mount Rushmore and other sights to see there, Chicago, IL, Louisville, KY and Churchill Downs races, Wisconsin Dells, WI and Dallas, TX. His grandchildren and their activities were an important part of his life. He attended as many of their activities as he could.
Skip wrote his own Eulogy/obituary and planned his own funeral.
