Eugene O. Waage

June 10, 1930 - December 23, 2014

Eugene O. Waage passed away peacefully on December 23, 2014, surrounded by his family. He was born on June 10, 1930 in Pipestone, Minnesota to Clarence and Emma Waage. In the early 1940s, his family moved to Independence, Missouri, and during World War II, Gene delivered ice throughout Independence, including to the Harry S Truman family. On October 29, 1950, he married Georgia Ann Hazelrigg, with whom he celebrated his 64th anniversary this past October. In 1951, he joined the United States Army, serving during the Korean War with the Eighth Army, first as a diesel mechanic and later as a mess sergeant. In 1957, he joined the Independence, Missouri Police Department, serving as a patrolman, sergeant, and detective and often served on the protection detail for President Truman at the Truman Library. He also worked in the professional licensing department and Liquor Control Division. In 1964, he and Georgia adopted their only son, Chris. In 1968, he joined the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General (OIG) - Great Plains Region (Kansas City, Missouri) as a Special Agent. In 1975, he moved to Temple, Texas, serving as a Supervisory Special Agent and Assistant Regional Inspector General of the Southwest Region. As a part of his duties with OIG, he also served as a part of the Secretary of Agriculture's protection detail. In 1982, he returned to the Great Plains Region, and retired from that office in 1988. During his retirement, he enjoyed fishing, working with his dog Jenny, tinkering with CB radios, reading Western novels, and doting on his four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Arlyne and Audrey. He is survived by his wife, Georgia, sister Dolores Williams, brothers Cecil and Roger, his son Chris Waage and daughter-in-law Kathy, his grandchildren Christian, Courtney, Kaitlyn, and Eric Waage, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to the American Cancer Society or The Animal Rescue Alliance.

Services will be on Monday, December 29, 2014 at Carson/Speaks Funeral Home, 1501 West Lexington Avenue, Independence, MO 64052. Visitation will be at 9:00 a.m., with the funeral to follow at 10:00 a.m. Internment will be at Oak Ridge Memorial Gardens, just east of M-291 on Salisbury Road, Independence, Missouri.

(Obituary provided by Chis Waage.)