In Memory Of
Jeanne (Hallewell) Hagen
1925
2021
Jeanne (Hallewell) Hagen
July 4, 1925 — October 26, 2021
It is with deep sadness to announce the passing of Jeanne Hagen. She was born in Cardiff, Wales, July 4, 1925, to Thomas and Elsie Hallewell. The family later moved to Southampton, England, where she attended Bitterne Park Elementary and High School, and then went on to take secretarial courses at a women's business school. Towards the end of WWII, she met and married American lieutenant Glenn Cogswell and moved to the United States.They had two children, Carolyn and David and then later divorced. Several years later she married Jerry Hagen, and they had two children, Laura and Michael, and later separated as well.
Jeanne had a variety of jobs during her life. While still in Southampton, she learned the trade of drafting at Supermarine Aviation as an apprentice. She was able to put that skill to use in the states working for the engineering firms, Van Doren & Hazard and later Burgwin, Pasley & Associates. She was also an on-the-job trained scrub nurse for St. Francis Hospital, and a psychiatric nurses aide for the VA Hospital. She received her real estate license and worked for Lee Beasley & Associates and also worked out of her home as a cosmetic representative for Viviane Woodard Cosmetics. She had a few receptionist positions as well.
One thing that truly defined Jeanne was her artistic skill which she showed at a very young age. As an adult she took art courses at Washburn University but was mostly self-taught. Mediums she excelled at were oil, watercolor, pencil and charcoal. She was also skilled at furniture refinishing, decoupage, papier mache, pottery and candle making. She also enjoyed sewing and knitting, and executed beautiful embroidery work. Jeanne loved growing plants and gardening, was wonderful at cooking, and always had a passion for animals and her pets. She enjoyed horse riding and owned two horses of her own for a time. She always had a thirst for knowledge, was an avid reader and enjoyed writing poetry. She loved music and had an extensive record collection covering the genres of classical, jazz, Broadway and pop. Jeanne had a wonderful sense of humor with an optimistic "anything is possible" attitude, and prided herself with saying she was "never bored." Her adventurous spirit led her to parachute tandem once, she took guitar lessons and also drum lessons from local jazz performer Forrest Slaughter. Jeanne had incredible life experiences and enjoyed telling people about the time she and her boyfriend at the time had dinner with Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh in Southampton, double dated with Gene Tierney in Topeka and got to see the Glenn Miller Orchestra in one of its final performances before his plane disappeared over the English Channel.
When Jeanne arrived in Topeka, she became one of the founding members of the British Wives Club. She was also an active member of Topeka Civic Theatre where she was part of the make-up team, designed program covers and posters, was on the play reading committee and performed in a few productions. She was also a parishioner at Grace Episcopal Cathedral and St. David's Episcopal Church.
Jeanne's greatest love was her four children, and she truly enjoyed being a mom. She had tremendous pride in them; she loved reading to them, introducing them to art and literature and helping them with their school projects. She always made the holidays special and threw wonderful birthday parties for them. She enjoyed making clothes for them in their pre-teen years, as well as helping them design Halloween costumes.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Dr. John Hallewell, and her daughter Laura Hamilton. She is survived by her daughter Carolyn Cogswell, and sons David Cogswell (Elena) and Michael Hagen, and son-in-law Brad Hamilton. She also has one granddaughter, Rosamund (Kristian) and two great-grandchildren, Nora and Freddie.
In October 2010 Jeanne suffered a brain bleed, and was limited in her abilities, but was able to live the rest of her life under the care of her youngest son, Michael, in the home that she helped build. A Celebration of Life will be planned in the near future.
To leave a message for the family, visit the guestbook below.
Jeanne had a variety of jobs during her life. While still in Southampton, she learned the trade of drafting at Supermarine Aviation as an apprentice. She was able to put that skill to use in the states working for the engineering firms, Van Doren & Hazard and later Burgwin, Pasley & Associates. She was also an on-the-job trained scrub nurse for St. Francis Hospital, and a psychiatric nurses aide for the VA Hospital. She received her real estate license and worked for Lee Beasley & Associates and also worked out of her home as a cosmetic representative for Viviane Woodard Cosmetics. She had a few receptionist positions as well.
One thing that truly defined Jeanne was her artistic skill which she showed at a very young age. As an adult she took art courses at Washburn University but was mostly self-taught. Mediums she excelled at were oil, watercolor, pencil and charcoal. She was also skilled at furniture refinishing, decoupage, papier mache, pottery and candle making. She also enjoyed sewing and knitting, and executed beautiful embroidery work. Jeanne loved growing plants and gardening, was wonderful at cooking, and always had a passion for animals and her pets. She enjoyed horse riding and owned two horses of her own for a time. She always had a thirst for knowledge, was an avid reader and enjoyed writing poetry. She loved music and had an extensive record collection covering the genres of classical, jazz, Broadway and pop. Jeanne had a wonderful sense of humor with an optimistic "anything is possible" attitude, and prided herself with saying she was "never bored." Her adventurous spirit led her to parachute tandem once, she took guitar lessons and also drum lessons from local jazz performer Forrest Slaughter. Jeanne had incredible life experiences and enjoyed telling people about the time she and her boyfriend at the time had dinner with Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh in Southampton, double dated with Gene Tierney in Topeka and got to see the Glenn Miller Orchestra in one of its final performances before his plane disappeared over the English Channel.
When Jeanne arrived in Topeka, she became one of the founding members of the British Wives Club. She was also an active member of Topeka Civic Theatre where she was part of the make-up team, designed program covers and posters, was on the play reading committee and performed in a few productions. She was also a parishioner at Grace Episcopal Cathedral and St. David's Episcopal Church.
Jeanne's greatest love was her four children, and she truly enjoyed being a mom. She had tremendous pride in them; she loved reading to them, introducing them to art and literature and helping them with their school projects. She always made the holidays special and threw wonderful birthday parties for them. She enjoyed making clothes for them in their pre-teen years, as well as helping them design Halloween costumes.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Dr. John Hallewell, and her daughter Laura Hamilton. She is survived by her daughter Carolyn Cogswell, and sons David Cogswell (Elena) and Michael Hagen, and son-in-law Brad Hamilton. She also has one granddaughter, Rosamund (Kristian) and two great-grandchildren, Nora and Freddie.
In October 2010 Jeanne suffered a brain bleed, and was limited in her abilities, but was able to live the rest of her life under the care of her youngest son, Michael, in the home that she helped build. A Celebration of Life will be planned in the near future.
To leave a message for the family, visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jeanne (Hallewell) Hagen, please visit our flower store.
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