Hagerup, Elizabeth

Elizabeth Hagerup (nee Stephens)

Whitefish Bay, WI  

Elizabeth passed away on January 7, 2025, after a life of rich love and beauty. Beauty. Like, head-turning, stop dead in your tracks beauty which led to a successful modeling and film production career. But the real beauty she shared was with the guy walking his dog past their house, a new baby, the bridge group, the handyman, the manicurist, the butcher, and most especially with her husband, sons, daughters in-law, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren that made her a revered “Lizzie”, “Nana” and our Queen. She knew “pretty is as pretty does.”

She tended to the joys in life like gardening, decorating, fashion and cooking that filled her home with warm, rich colors, sweet tea and apple pie.  Part southern charm, part Midwestern nice, hostess extraordinaire - peppered with a wicked sense of humor, her generosity pulled us in, and her loyalty held us forever. She doted on her large group of women friends and effortlessly invited new ones into the fold.  She tended to the details of our lives.

Born in Bowling Green, Kentucky on August 14, 1937, to Dr. H.L. and Barbara Stephens, she met her husband Eric Hagerup in Dodgeville, Wisconsin 70 years ago.  The legendary story involves something about hot pants and a halter top, but just know it resulted in a marriage bond just shy of 67 years, unlike any other.  We should all be so lucky as to live a life so well.

Survived by husband Eric; brother H.L. Stephens, Jr.; sons Christopher (Loni) and Stefan (Kathleen); seven grandchildren – Ingrid (Andrew) Davis; Christopher (Tova) Hagerup; Will (Claire) Hagerup; Ana, Alexander, Lily and Leif Hagerup.  Eight great-grandchildren – Tryggve, Augusta, Beau and Hart Davis; William Mac, Nora, and Eric Hagerup; and Julian Hagerup.

Visitation at 11:30 a.m. and Memorial Service at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2025, at Christ Episcopal Church, 5655 N. Lake Drive, Whitefish Bay, WI.