A service honoring the life of the Rev. Jeff Laeger-Hagemeister, 58, of Albert Lea will be at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea. The Rev. Mark Niethammer will officiate. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday with family present from 4 to 6 p.m. at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Jeff died Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at St. John’s Lutheran Community.

Jeff Laeger-Hagemeister was born Aug. 2, 1956, to Glenn and Marianne (Nelson) Hagemeister in Cambridge. Jeff grew up on a farm in Isanti County where he learned the value of hard work, love of the land and grew in faith at Long Lake Lutheran Church. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1974.

His love and gift of music led him to Concordia College in Moorhead where he studied voice, religion and psychology and graduated in May 1979. While at Concordia, he met his wife, Mary Laeger. They were married in July 1980 in Kulm, N.D. This union was blessed with two wonderful children, Daniel, 31, and Reka, 28, and grandson, Hollis, 6.

Jeff continued his academics at Luther-Northwestern Seminary in St. Paul and graduated and was ordained in 1986 as a Lutheran pastor. Jeff served ELCA churches in Karthaus, Pa., Liverpool, Pa., Mount Joy, Pa., and Halifax, Pa. In 1998 the family returned to Minnesota and he served as an interim pastor until 2003 when he became Chaplain at St. John’s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea. He lovingly served residents, staff, families and volunteers until this summer when his health no longer allowed him to continue.

In addition to his faith and spending time with the family, he loved being with and helping people, fixing things and enjoyed singing most recently with Cantori in Albert Lea. He gave to the community through Kiwanis, 4-H, Habitat for Humanity, SEMCAC, and Grace Lutheran and Salem Lutheran churches, helping with confirmations and choirs.

He was a beloved husband, father, Opa and friend. He is survived by his wife, Mary; son, Daniel; daughter, Reka; grandson, Hollis; brothers Fred (Rhende) and Randy; and nieces and a nephew.

All who knew Jeff were blessed by his caring, his humor and his sense of justice and being authentic.

The family requests in lieu of flowers or plants, please give to a charity of choice, SEMCAC, St. John’s Building Fund or Salem Lutheran Church. Helping others is a way for Jeff to live on in the community.