Albany SOAR Chapter 12-7

Passing of a Wah Chang worker
Janice Hagemeister Obituary
Janice Marie Hagemeister (Miller) was born December 13th, 1941 in Waterloo, Iowa to Walter Miller and Lois Truax Miller. Her mother Lois died from polio in June 1948, when Jan was only 6 years old. In 1949, her family moved to Oregon to be with other family members who were already here, and their Truax/Miller clan eventually settled in Crabtree, Oregon. Her father remarried in 1950 to Eva Plumlee Miller. Jan attended Griggs School, a one room school with levels kindergarten through 8th grade. Then she went on to attend Albany Union High School (now West Albany) where she graduated in 1959. She attended college for two years and also worked at Wah Chang mill as a secretary. She married John Summers in 1963 and they had a daughter, Stacey in July 1965. John and Jan divorced in early 1968. At that time she was a secretary at KatTrak, a company that built rough terrain vehicles. It was there she met Kermit Hagemeister who also worked there. They married October 11, 1968. Together they had two children, Lori in 1970 and Dan in 1972. They lived in Seal Rock, Oregon from 1969 to 1976. In the summer of 1976 they moved to Lebanon, Oregon where they remained for many years. After 23 years of marriage, Jan and Kermit divorced, (though they remained good friends until he passed in 2008) and Jan moved to Albany. She bought a home there in 1992 and remained there until her death. (With the exception of 8 months at Brookdale Senior Living December 2024 to August 2025).
Jan began working at OSU in the late 1970s in the payroll dept. and then eventually in the research accounting dept. as an accountant. She plugged away at her college degree while raising kids and working full time. In 1996 she graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration at the age of 54. She had the biggest, brightest smile out of all the graduates she walked with that day. Her proud family was there to cheer her great accomplishment! She retired from OSU in 2003 at the age of 62.
Retirement was just her starting point in many ways, she was involved with many different organizations and hobbies afterwards: her church, quilting, Volkswalkers, Geneology Society, Modern Travelers, the Truax Association and more. She traveled to many places around the country and abroad with dear friends and family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lois and Walter, her sister Jayne, two of her children, Stacey and Danny, and her ex-husband and dear friend, Kermit. She is survived by her only remaining daughter Lori, her grandchildren Tyson, Meghan and Jacob, and her great grandchildren Ally, Jameson, Lilly, Jolene and Benjamin. Plus many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Jan passed peacefully in her home, with her daughter Lori holding her hand on November 19 at 8:14 a.m. She was a prime example of a beautiful life well lived, and she will be dearly missed by many.
May she rest in peace,
Respectfully,
Garry Steffy

Chuck (Charles) Moore
May 23, 1942 — July 10, 2025
Salem
Chuck (Charles Ray) Moore peacefully entered the presence of his Savior the morning of July 10th at age 83. He was born in Westwood, California on May 23, 1942.
Chuck spent his growing up years in Scio, Oregon where he attended all 12 years of school. He received both his Bachelor and Masters Degree in Education at Oregon College of Education (now known as Western Oregon University). Chuck taught in the Albany School District and was an administrator for the Title I Programs. He developed the Albany Education Center where parents and teachers alike could acquire learning and teaching resources. The Oregon Department of Education honored him as the Oregon Title Distinguished Educator for 1995-1997. Chuck worked for the Oregon Dept. of Education as a consultant for reviewing Title I programs throughout the state.
Chuck married Barbara Jean Kilmer on July 28,1967. They were married for 58 years. They have 2 children, their son Shane Moore (wife Stacey Moore) and daughter Tonja Patterson (husband Trevor Patterson). Their grandchildren include Taprie Hayes, Dallas Hayes, Brenna Moore, Kayla Moore, and Zach Moore. Chuck loved and cherished his family deeply.
Chuck served in the Army Reserve for 6 years from 1965 until 1971.He enjoyed sports. In college he played basketball at Portland State College and handball at Oregon College of Education. He made the baseball team at OCE, but had to quit to go to work at Wah Chang. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. He especially enjoyed fishing and spent many summers with family and friends fishing in Canadian and Alaskan waters. He built drift boats and loved floating the rivers, especially the Deschutes and the Santiam.
Upon retirement, Chuck's goal was to visit all 50 states. With his wife and friends, he made that happen. Out of country, the travel highlight for him was touring Israel.
He attended Salem Heights Church and served as Lay Elder for many years. He was a teacher, mentor, encourager, and friend to many. He was a special man who will be missed.
May he rest in peace,
Respectfully,
Garry Steffy

James Denham Obituary
James H. Denham
September 26, 1952 - December 9, 2024
Jim was born in Klamath Falls, Ore. to Cleo (Lee) and Fred Harvey Denham. He graduated from Klamath Union High School, earned a bachelor's degree from University of Washington, and a Law degree from University of Oregon in 1977. Jim met his wife, Vickie Murdoch in 1972 on a study abroad program in Heidelberg, Germany.
Jim and Vickie married in 1975. They moved to Albany, Ore. in 1977 so Jim could take a position at what was then Wah Chang. They raised two boys, Jesse and Mac, grateful for their peer groups and terrific Albany teachers. After thirty years and outlasting a lot of change, Jim retired in 2016 from ATI Metals. The couple moved to Florence, Ore. in 2019.
Jim was involved in and served on boards of many Albany organizations throughout his life, including Boys and Girls Club, United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Samaritan Health, and Central Willamette Credit Union. He was honored with the Chamber's Distinguished Service award in 2010.
He was a man who put family first, loved serving his community, and was always willing to ask the hard questions. He was notoriously persistent with those questions until he got answers.
Jim died at home of pancreatic cancer, surrounded by his loved ones. He is survived by his wife; sons; daughters in law, Sara and Kayla; sisters, Jeanne and Janet; and four grandchildren.
An open house celebration of life will be held at the Albany Boys and Girls Club on Saturday, June 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Drop in for food and drink and if possible, a story to share.
May he rest in peace,
Respectfully,
Garry Steffy