Obituary of Arne E. Hagglund

Arne E. Hagglund, died of COVID-19 on February 2, 2021 in Reston, VA, at the age of 84. He lived a beautiful life with his forever love in Jamestown, NY for over six decades, until they moved together to Virginia in 2018 to live near their youngest daughter's family. Arne was born on a farm in 1936 in northern Sweden, one of four close-knit children who worked hard from their youngest years. At age 11, Arne carried beams and climbed rafters to help re-build the family barn after a fire. In Arne's teens, he became a champion wrestler in Sweden and served for two years in the Swedish Army. He would say his pivotal life moment was when he happened upon a dance hall with his lifelong friend, Lennart, where he met the love of his life. At age 20, with just a few weeks before the legal age to marry, he wrote for permission to the King of Sweden to marry his beloved Maj-Lis. Together, they emigrated to the United States on their honeymoon and created an incredibly happy home, filled with dancing, laughter, whistling and so much love. From Arne's simple beginning as a farmer's son and press brake assistant at Jamestown Metal Products, he emerged as the factory's Co-Owner and Vice President of Manufacturing. Among its many endeavors, the factory developed the cabinetry and countertops for The White House kitchen twice, and Arne created the design. At various times, he acted as Chairman of the Norden Club; served on the Executive Committee of Scandinavian Studies at Jamestown Community College; served as Chairman of the Board at Casa Del Mar Beach Resort in Aruba where he and Maj-Lis enjoyed many winters; served on The Swedish Council of America; and enjoyed membership in the Vikings and Thule Lodges. In 2011, he and Maj-Lis were also honored to host King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Sylvia of Sweden during their visit to Jamestown. To paraphrase his mentor and founder of Jamestown Metal Products, Hugo Lindgren, Arne would say, "I am no big example of success, but for an ordinary stumble bum, I have done well." Beyond his civic affiliations, Arne relished in the jokes he always shared (usually about a Swede fella); his Thursday golf nights with The Metal Heads; hosting their annual Bathrobe Open, where a golfer or two may have been thrown into the pool; and joining Maj-Lis and their other close friends for The West Ellicott Open's annual golf weekends, once even meeting Arnold Palmer. Arne would say that his most important tangible accomplishment was a book of letters he wrote to his brother Sigvard, drawn from a decade of reading and research of The Bible and its history. Through this study, as well as the foundation of his family in Sweden that included Peace Corp volunteers and pastors, Arne's relationship with God grew strong. His faith carried him as he patiently set aside his needs to care for Maj-Lis for the last ten years, to the point of living in a memory care unit in Virginia with her, when he was not a candidate for that care. His mission was and always has been to love and cherish her, in sickness and in health, until death do they part -- a phrase that he often repeated to the inspiration of staff and visitors at Brightview Senior Living. And, as the Bible calls, he served her –and others—with joy, as if serving the Lord. If he wasn't dancing or playing cards with Maj-Lis, he could be seen dressed as Santa sharing candy canes across the Brightview community at Christmas, or finding any way he could to help his children and grandchildren. Arne will be deeply missed but always an inspiration to his surviving wife, Maj-Lis, of nearly 64 years; his daughter and son-in-law, Ann-Louise and John Roginson of Amherst, NY; his daughter and son-in-law Elizabeth and Mark Spoto of Reston, VA; his four grandchildren, Lisa and Kevin Roginson and Maia and Nicholas Spoto; and his many nieces and nephews who span three continents. His grandchildren will especially remember the many games of hide-n-seek, 500 Rummy, "come if you dare", swimming in the pool on High Street, and Morfar's unending encouragement and support. He is preceded in death by his Mother and Father, Edith and Gustaf Hagglund, as well as his three siblings, Eva Fahlgren, Stig Hagglund and Sigvard Hagglund. Out of precaution for the pandemic, the immediate family will have a small, in-person funeral service at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Great Falls, Virginia on Wednesday, February 10 at 3pm EST and invites anyone who would like to attend virtually to search the Christ the King Lutheran - Great Falls VA page on Facebook and click the link for Arne Hagglund's funeral. It will be streamed live on February 10 and recorded for any who prefer to view afterward. A private graveside service will be held at Lake View Cemetery in Jamestown, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family recommends a donation to Lutheran Social Services 715 Falconer St. Jamestown, NY 14701 (http://www.lutheran-jamestown.org/) to commemorate Arne's caregiving and faithful heart. You may leave words of condolence for Arne's family at www.lindfuneralhome.com