Cliff Royal Hagen

Clifford R. Hagen Jr. was born in Dearborn Michigan on February 17, 1941, to Clifford R. Hagen 06/06/1913 and Helene Tyza, 09/30/1919.  He was the oldest of three brothers.

After WW2 family moved from Detroit to Walla Walla, WA after a short time in Oregon.  At age 11, the family moved to Orange County, Ca where he spent the rest of his growing up years.  He graduated from Grossmont High School Mt. Helix in 1958.

He started working in the printing industry in Orange County after graduating from high school. He was a very hardworking man with exceptional and demanding work ethic which let him advance quickly in the printing industry and becoming a manager.   He was also very competitive, and he had love for car racing.  In 1960 when he was only 19, he bought his first Corvette, and it was the fastest car in San Diego County. He was one of the best in drag racing.  Anything he did he was always the Best.

In 1976 he moved to Folsom CA and shortly became a plant manager of Cal Central Press. He always was very ambitious and hardworking and shortly after that he founded his own company, Sacramento Business Forms. He hired a lot of his family members giving them a start in the printing industry. 

He had three sons David, Michael and Jeff from his previous marriage to Georgene Hagen.

In 1992 he met the love of his life Galina Gnatyk and it was a great love and partnership for over thirty years they lived together.   Together they started River City Print Inc and worked in great partnership with Mailing Systems Inc. where Galina became a partner and SFO.

He was a loving father to his youngest daughter Sophia, teaching her to ride a quad, skiing, as well as learning to drive a car at 15 years old, watching movies with her and playing games.  He was a great father to his three sons teaching them many life lessons. He was a loving grandpa to his four grandchildren and loving papa to his nine-year-old Nika who was born on his birthday. He was a loving brother and uncle to all nieces and nephews and always included them in all family gathering as his own children.

Cliff’s love for life was amazing.  His famous saying was “Anyone who doesn’t like this life is nuts”.  He loved speed and adventures and having lots of toys in his garage including dirt bike, quads, four-wheel drive, Harley Davidson and his latest toy Porsche 911 Carrera S. and 32 SEA Ray Boat in Florida.  He loved camping, sitting by the fire in his Tahoe cabin with family and friends, skiing, riding his Harley with friends, boating in the Gulf of Mexico, driving his Porsche.  He was always surrounded by family and friends.  His optimism and love for people was infectious.  He made friends everywhere he went, people naturally gravitated to his kind and genuine and larger than life personality.  He was always in the center of any gatherings.

Cliff loved to entertain. Cliff and Galina’s’ home was always open for family and friends and for anyone needing shelter.  He loved to host large parties in his home.  Cliff and Galina always host all family Holidays, Church gatherings, numerous large parties including MSI’s annual Christmas party. 

Cliffs another passion was travel.  Together with his wife and friends he visited numerous countries, including two spiritual journeys to Israel with his Church and pastors.  He was baptized in River Jordan and Cliff and Galina renewed their marriage wows in Cana of Galilee on their 15^th Wedding Anniversary.

Cliff suffered numerous health problems in the last several years, he was in constant severe pain, had to walk with oxygen and other disabilities.   His faith, strong character, love for life and family and friends was caring him through it all and he never complained once, and still was traveling, entertaining, and continuing to enjoy life to the fullest! 

He survived by his wife Galina, three sons Dave, Michael, Jeff, daughter Sophia, grandchildren Mathew, Taylor, Mikey, Veronika and great grandchildren.

Cliffs larger than life personality will be greatly missed by so many but his legacy will live in our hearts forever! Rest in peace my Loving Husband!