Jo Elin Hagen

Jo Elin Hagen, age 82, passed away January 11, 2026, after a long and challenging illness.

She was born October 4, 1943, to the late Roger and Lois Hagen of Washington Island, Wisconsin. She resided there until graduating from the Island’s High School and then graduated from cosmetology college in Green Bay. She worked as a cosmetologist in Milwaukee, later returned to Washington Island, then moved to Green Bay, owning her own salons in both locations.

Throughout her life she spent many summer months working at Sunset Resort, the vacation hotel owned by herself and her family. She also worked as an Activities Director in retirement homes in Milwaukee and Waukesha, retiring back to the Island in 2009.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Jay Hagen, and is survived by her husband, Richard Westring; her sister, Jewel Lee (Charles) Grandy; her brothers, Jeffrey (Laura) and Jon Hagen; her son, Steven (Phyllis); daughter, Stephanie Reiss; stepdaughter, Carolyn (Bruce) Nason; her grandson, Alec Reiss, and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Jo was a sweet and loving person whose very presence brought joy to others. She was also a talented artist who created beauty in all she did, whether it was as a cosmetologist, as a painter in oils and watercolors, or as a designer and creator of jewelry. In her later years she became an expert in and taught origami, the Japanese art of paper folding.

In accord with her wishes, there will not be a funeral, but a Celebration of Life which will be held in future months.

We ask that any donations in her name be made to the Washington Island Archives or the Bradley Jordan Foundation to help build a much-needed gymnasium for our school. The family thanks Serenity Spring Senior Living at Scandia Village for their kind and compassionate care of Jo in recent years.

Casperson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, LLC in Sister Bay is caring for the family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Jo may be shared with her family through her tribute page at www.CaspersonFuneralHome.com.

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