Lowell Arthur Hagan's Obituary
Lowell Arthur Hagan was born February 20, 1940, in Centralia, Washington to Lyle and Vera Hagan. A graduate of Olympia High School, he received a full scholarship to Yale University, where he earned a BA in History in 1961. He later obtained an MA in History from Seattle University and pursued doctoral studies at the Institute of Christian Studies in Toronto.
In 1964, Lowell married Hildegund “Gundel” Weller and was drafted into the Army. As a conscientious objector, he served as a company clerk in Vietnam and never forgot the friends he lost there. Lowell and Gundel had two daughters, Heather and Amy, and eventually two grandchildren, Olivia and Sam.
Upon returning to the U.S. in 1967, Lowell began a 39-year-long career as a high school teacher at Bellevue Christian School where he taught history and psychology and ran the school’s theater program, marrying his love of music, drama, and storytelling with his gift for relating to and mentoring youth.
Lowell had an amazing capacity for creative endeavors including acting, directing, singing, playing the piano, and writing. He authored a children’s Bible, a book about the philosophy of Bellevue Christian School, and myriad movie reviews and short essays.
In 1991, Lowell married Sandie Beeman, and gained three wonderful stepsons, Keith, David, and Todd. He enjoyed the energy the boys brought to the house.
In 2002, Lowell married his long-time teaching colleague Kathie Hayden. The couple enjoyed blending their full-grown families and Lowell gained a stepdaughter and friend in Sara Hayden, Kathie’s daughter.
Although Lowell retired in 2006, he continued to give of himself in many capacities. With Kathie, he volunteered at the Spencer Perkins Center in Jackson, MS and sang in church choirs. He served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in the foster system, as a church elder, and a wise advisor and friend to many. He was committed to advancing the mission of Bellevue Christian School and continued to substitute teach until his death, finding a special joy in early elementary grades.
Lowell was animated, thoughtful, generous, and always kept himself busy. He loved reading, gardening, theater, and classical music; he and Kathie held season tickets to multiple arts organizations. His memory was legendary, leading his daughters to dub him “the walking encyclopedia”. He stayed open to new ideas and experiences – even enjoying his introduction to sushi and monster trucks at the hands of his grandchildren.
Lowell’s life was marked by faithful love for Christ, for his family, his students, and his community. Generous and active in fellowship, he chose to care for others; to love, and to accept grace, especially when his generosity caused him to overcommit. Lowell thought deeply about the world from a truly Christian perspective; he loved his neighbor and was devoted to furthering their welfare.
Lowell passed away peacefully on September 22, 2025, surrounded by loving family, after sustaining a head injury from a fall. He is survived by wife Kathie, daughters Heather and Amy, grandchildren Olivia and Sam, and stepdaughter Sara. His brother Mike Hagan and sister Jackie Campbell preceded him in death.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, November 8th at 1:00 pm Pacific Standard Time at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, 1717 Bellevue Way NE, Bellevue. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation, https://www.jvmpf.org.
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