Obituary: Lowell Victor Fagen

Lowell Victor Fagen

Lowell Victor Fagen

Lowell Victor Fagen, 92, died peacefully March 9, 2019 following a stroke in Chandler, Arizona, surrounded by family.

He was born Jan. 25, 1927, in Dawson, Iowa, to Ivyl and Blanche Fagen. Lowell attended Iowa State College and was a member of a championship ROTC rifle team, prior to joining the Marine Corps during World War II.

In 1945, he was selected to serve as chauffeur and bodyguard for Gen. M. H. Silverthorn, then joined the Public Information Office at Fleet Marine Force Pacific at Pearl Harbor, serving as a combat correspondent and staff announcer at Armed Forces Radio WVTC.

Lowell begin competing in rifle matches in 1946, winning his first silver medal at the Pacific Division matches; and was on the team that won the San Diego Trophy Match.

At a First Methodist Church in Honolulu, Lowell spotted a “tall, gorgeous dark-haired gal coming down from the balcony.” It was “Piilani,” and their relationship blossomed. After Lowell’s release from active duty and return to Iowa, he romanced and proposed to Lani by mail and telephone, marrying Aug. 5, 1950, in Berkeley, California.

The newlyweds moved to Jefferson, Iowa, where Lowell worked in farm machinery sales until he was recalled by the Marines in 1951. He was an instructor at Camp Pendleton, and later a Combat Correspondent in Korea, returning in time to qualify for a Marine team that competed in the 1951 National Rifle Matches, placing sixth in the National Individual and fourth in the Navy Cup Matches.

After returning again to civilian life, Lowell resumed a farming operation, growing corn and soybeans and raising sheep. A licensed pilot, Lowell joined Elliot Beechcraft as a salesman and demonstration pilot; served and chaired the local Airport Authority Board; and was on IDOT’s Air and Transport Division Advisory Board. Lowell joined Farm Bureau Insurance in Winterset, Iowa; took a Dale Carnegie course and became an instructor for 11 years; then rejoined Farm Bureau.

Lani and Lowell moved to Prescott in 1987 and he started another career in real estate, revising contracts for the Arizona Association of Realtors and serving on the Arizona Department of Real Estate professionalism committee.

Most of Lowell’s real estate practice involved rural properties and septic systems, and when the ADEQ established the On-Site Wastewater Advisory Committee (OWAC), Lowell served for six years; and was a founding member for the nonprofit state organization Arizona on-Site Wastewater Recycling Association (AZOWRA). Lowell continued working for Red Arrow Real Estate in Prescott until age 91, and shortly after, he and Lani moved to Chandler to be closer to family.

Those remembering and celebrating Lowell’s life include his wife of 68 years, Piilani “Lani” Norene Feiteira Fagen; four children, Loren Anthony Fagen of Sande, Norway, Laurie Napua Fagen (Hancock), Chandler, Arizona, Lex Monroe Fagen (Ling), Shanghai, China, and Lee Marshall Fagen (Sally Grant), Berkeley, California; grandchildren, Ryan Anthony Fagen, San Luis Obispo, Erin Fagen, Long Beach, California, Shawn Anthony Fagen, Sande, Norway, Devon James Hancock, Tempe, Arizona, Samuel Grant Fagen, Berkeley, California, and Axel Victor Fagen, Shanghai, China.

Join the family in a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. Friday, May 17, at the Prescott Valley Methodist Church, 8944 E. Sommer Drive, Prescott Valley, AZ 86314, which will include a Marine Corps military honors service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project in Lowell’s name at www.WoundedWarriorProject.org. Send memories and condolences to www.sunrisefuneralhome.com.

Information provided by survivors.


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