Kenneth Norman Hagberg

PRINCETON - Kenneth Norman Hagberg of Princeton died peacefully at home with UMass Memorial Home Health and Hospice Care on December 13, 2010, at age 81.

He was the son of the late Martin R. and Lillian A. (Toivonen) Hagberg of North Worcester. Fifty-five years ago on October 22nd he married Anna Ottoson Johnson of Holden, and in 1960 they moved to Princeton. He leaves his wife and four children: Peter, wife Felicia, sons Luke and Brett of Fitchburg; David, wife Nancy, sons Neil and Andrew, of Sterling; Amy, husband R. Paul Barton, of Limerick, Maine; Ruth, husband Gary Blodgett, son Jared Kenneth, of Huntington, Vermont. He leaves his brother Paul M. and wife Martha Hagberg of Paxton; a sister Carolyn, husband Gary Setterlund, of Dennis. He also leaves two sisters-in-law, Arlene Johnson-Drawbridge, Janet Estey and a brother-in-law Albert B. Southwick, plus a legion of caring nieces, nephews and their families. He was predeceased by a sister-in-law Shirley J. Southwick and a brother-in-law Elmer J. Johnson, Jr. He also leaves his devoted dog, Lydia.

Ken graduated from the former Commerce High School in 1948, worked part time as a watchmaker’s assistant at Lahde Jewelers and later for the Telephone Company. In 1951 he was inducted into the Army and trained as a Teletype mechanic. He was also a member of the Army Security Agency, stationed for two years in the Philippines at Clark Air Force Base during the Korean War. Once home he worked part time for Bradford Cheney, Keeper of the Worcester City Clocks, and he also worked at State Mutual Life Assurance Co. Kenneth later operated a part time antique clock repair business in his home.

He attended the former Worcester Junior College and later transferred to Clark University where he earned a bachelor’s degree from the Evening College in 1961. For nine years he was the foreman of the Watch Clock Dept. at Simplex Time Recorder Company in Gardner. During this time he studied piano technology with registered piano technician and piano rebuilder Erroll Crowl in Athol. In 1969 he began his own piano business. His son David later joined him under the name K Hagberg and Son, and they tuned, repaired, rebuilt and moved pianos for many years. They were both registered technicians with the Piano Technicians Guild, and Kenneth was president of the Boston Chapter in 1977-78. He retired from piano work on December 31, 2009 with a forty year pin from the PTG. During these years Ken continued his favorite hobby of taking piano lessons with first Martha Ahlstrom and later Janeen Baker.

In 1961 he overhauled the silent Howard Tower Clock in the Goodnow Memorial Building in Princeton where for 48 years he weekly wound the clock and kept it in good repair. In April, 2009 he was honored by the selectmen of the Town of Princeton for his efforts, and the Trustees of Goodnow Memorial Library also honored him by placing a brass plaque listing his name and work by the spiral staircase leading to the clock. In 1954 Ken owned a 1929 Franklin that he and his brother brought to the first Franklin Trek in Syracuse, NY, a car that he sold to buy his Princeton home. In 1993 he replaced it with a restored 1930 Franklin. Some of Ken’s greatest joys were being a member of The H.H. Franklin Club, Inc. and driving his 1930 sedan to the annual week long Franklin Trek in Cazenovia, NY.

For the last ten years Ken and Anna have been members of WISE, Worcester Institute for Senior Education. Since 1987 they have been summer residents of Jonesport, Maine on the ocean.

The Family wishes to thank the many medical personnel for their compassionate care during his illness, especially his doctor, Dr. David Rosenfield and his oncologist and friend, Dr. Doreen Brettler. We also thank his regular home hospice angels, Camille Soucy and Lynne McCrann RN.

Relatives and Friends are invited to attend calling hours from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, December 17th, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden. The funeral service will be at his church, Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster Street, Worcester at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 18th. Burial will be private in Woodlawn Cemetery, Princeton. Memorial donations may be made in his name to the Trinity Lutheran Church Alter and Organ Fund, 73 Lancaster Street, Worcester, MA 01609; or to the Trustees of the Goodnow Memorial Building (for the Perpetual Care of the Howard Clock), 2 Town Hall Drive, Princeton, MA 01541.

Website & Guest book: www.milesfuneralhome.com