The Hagen Family Foundation’s generous $5,450 donation to Munising Public Schools honors a deep family connection to the area and a legacy of giving back.
At the heart of this contribution is Virginia (Kuenzer) Hagen, an 85-year-old alumna of William G. Mather High School, whose enduring love for her hometown and its schools inspired the gift.
Virginia, who graduated from Mather in 1957, was born in Bear Lake, Michigan, and moved to Munising when her father, Ray Kuenzer, took a job with Kimberly Clark Paper Mill.
Reflecting on her school days, she said, “I loved going to Mather. There are lots of great memories, especially basketball games. I was an ‘out-of-towner,’ so sometimes I had to walk 2 miles each way. I recall there was a long hill leading into town.”
Virginia’s journey after high school was just as adventurous.
“
I loved going to Mather. There are lots of great memories, especially basketball games.
—Virginia
Hagen
” “A few weeks after graduation, I and several classmates, including Alias Latfala, Karen Lemley and Sandy Coryell, drove down to the University of Michigan for secretarial jobs,” she said.
Five of them shared one apartment as they started their new chapter. “Road trips home with the girls” became a highlight of those early years.
During this time, Virginia met her husband, David Hagen, a U-M engineering student. The couple married in 1961 and raised three children while living in Ann Arbor, Livonia and Dearborn Heights.
Despite relocating, Virginia and her family stayed connected to Munising, returning once or twice a year to visit her parents and extended family. “We had fun making pasties, walking in the woods, swimming (freezing water) and catching up with family,” she said.
Her son, Andy, added his own fond memories: “We spent time around Pictured Rocks and Widewaters Campground. My grandfather was a snowmobile guy, so I got to do some snowmobiling. It was pretty wild for us growing up in Detroit and then visiting Munising.”
Virginia’s mother, Dorothy “Dottie” Stephens Kuenzer, who lived to 100, was a remarkable influence. A 1936 Mather graduate, Dottie was known for her love of nature, photography and music. She passed down her appreciation for education and community — values evident in how Virginia raised her children.
After taking business classes in high school, Virginia was recruited by the University of Michigan for a secretarial position, an opportunity that set her on a path of personal and professional growth. She instilled in her family a respect for learning and achievement.
Andy Hagen noted that he and his sisters all achieved advanced degrees — with Andy and Patricia earning doctorates and Laura earning a master’s degree — thanks to their mother’s unwavering support. “We couldn’t have done it without her,” he said. “She was the one that made the home, got us to church and reminded us of our values.”
The idea for the gift came from a conversation with Virginia’s middle daughter, Patricia. “She asked my mom if there was something special she wanted to support, and out of the blue, my mom said, ‘I’d like to give to my high school.’ It’s the first time she initiated such a gift herself,” Andy said.
Virginia and David, now retired and residing in assisted living in Boca Raton, Florida, remain connected to their faith and family values. Andy, a pastor, reflected on how their acts of generosity align with the legacy they wish to leave.
He fondly recalled attending “wonderful vacation Bible schools at the Methodist Church” during family visits to Munising, an experience that further instilled an appreciation for community and faith.
Andy also noted the family foundation they started 25 years ago, which focuses on supporting education, the arts and nature. “We’ve been giving grants for years, but this donation is special. It’s her way of thanking her roots and the people at her school who helped shape her,” he said. “It shows that while people move, their hearts can remain.”
The donation will be split to directly benefit students at Mather Elementary and Munising Middle/ High School.
According to Mather Principal Shannon DeFrancesco, the funds will support math fluency development through the Frax program, field trips for enriched learning opportunities and the S.T.A.N.G. Positive Behavioral Support Program.
“We are deeply grateful for the Hagens’ generosity and Virginia’s enduring connection to our schools,” DeFrancesco said. “These resources not only enrich students’ lives but also prepare them to become thoughtful and responsible members of our community.”
At the middle/high school level, Principal Nicole Lasak is considering using the funds for a Character Development & Leadership curriculum aimed at middle school students.
Munising Public Schools Board President Paula Ackerman added, “Virginia’s connection to her alma mater shows how a school can leave a lasting impact. The Hagens’ generosity will not only benefit our students today but also hopefully will inspire a culture of giving within our community for years to come.”
Virginia herself reflected on the reasons behind her gift: “I’ve been very blessed and want to share the blessings,” she said. “I loved going to Mather. I have lots of great memories.”
For a woman who left Munising with a sense of adventure and returned year after year with her growing family, Virginia Hagen’s story is one of lasting ties to a hometown that shaped her life.
As her children carry forward the family’s legacy of philanthropy, this gift invests in future generations of Munising students who will benefit from the same values of education, community and opportunity that she cherished.
Virginia’s children continue the tradition of staying connected to their mother’s hometown. Andy said, “My sister Patricia goes to Widewaters Campground every year for at least a week and braves the mosquitoes — they come in the summer — and pasties.” Laughing, he added, “Just talking about pasties is making me hungry.”
Through her generosity, Virginia reminds us all that it’s never too late to make a difference. “This gift reflects my parents’ lifelong commitment to education and giving back,” Andy said. “They taught us that sharing blessings brings joy and creates a legacy that lasts.”
With the Hagen family’s support, Munising Public Schools will continue to nurture students and inspire them to achieve their dreams, just as it did for Virginia decades ago.
