Julia Ruth Hagens, a daughter of D. K. and Mary Ruth Hillman Allen, was born on June 29, 1919, in Cascade, Idaho. She was one of four children and her siblings were: Everett (Pat), John Robert (Jack) and Georgina. Her family owned and operated the Bar A Ranch in Long Valley, Idaho.

Following Julia’s graduation from high school, she attended business school in Boise, Idaho. While living in Idaho she met Elmer Cornelis Hagens of Pella, Iowa, who had sought employment in the western states. They were united in marriage on November 2, 1941, at Kirkwood, Missouri. Before starting their family Julia worked as a clerk in the ration office in Cascade for a year. She then joined her husband in Tok Junction, Alaska, where he ran a garage for the US Corps of Engineers building the Alcan Highway during World War II. After the war, Julia and Elmer made their home in Pella, Iowa where they raised their three children: John Allen, Betty Joanne and Julia Ruth. They established an auto repair business in Pella where Julia was the bookkeeper for Elmer’s business, Hagens Garage, until 1972.

Julia expressed her natural culinary talent and creativity by working as a cake decorator at Jaarsma’s Bakery where she made beautiful wedding cakes, cookies and ginger bread houses, as recently as this year. She also opened the Hagens-Van Willigen House for tours in 2001 and was a delightful host to hundreds of visitors who came through the home.

She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Pella. On Friday, April 9, 2010, she passed away at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 90 years.

Julia is survived by her three children: John A.(Jack) Hagens and Trish of Pella, Iowa, Betty (Elizabeth) J. and her husband, Robin Lindenboom of Iowa City, Iowa, Julia Ruth and her husband, Richard Robinson of Phoenix, Arizona; four grandsons: Patrick Hagens of Gillette, Wyoming, Robert Lindenboom, Mark Lindenboom and Andrew Lindenboom of Iowa City, Iowa; two nephews and a niece: J.R. Allen of Cascade, Idaho, Everett Winsberg of Coupeville, Washington and Sanna (Winsberg) Goins of San Diego, California.

Julia was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer Hagens on December 1, 1982; her parents, D. K. and Mary Ruth Allen; her parents-in-law: John C. Hagens, Cora (Olivier) Hagens and Maurice Van Willigen; her two brothers: Pat Allen and Jack Allen and her sister, Georgina (Allen) Winsberg.

Julia lived her life with selfless generosity, honor, dignity and kindness for all living creatures. Her genuine nurturing warmth, and spirited sense of humor made her a trusted friend, sister, wife and cherished mother and grandmother. She will be greatly missed by all the people whose lives she touched.