William August Hauser, 72, dies
William August Hauser, 72, passed away on October 21, 2016, in Ely, MN, with his devoted wife, Sharon Angel Magliulo by his side. Their struggle with his Alzheimer’s disease has ended; they are now at peace.
Will was born in St. Louis, MO, and moved to Long Island when he was 5, living there until attending The Hill School in Pottstown, PA. After prep school, Will attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, where he received a liberal arts degree. Will’s post-graduate studies were at the University of London in England, where he received a Master’s in Slavonic and Eastern European Studies. During the Vietnam War he served in the Army stationed in Germany as a Russian interpreter.
Will had such an authentic spirit of life and lived his passions to the fullest. He loved languages and spoke Spanish and Russian fluently. He loved travel, camping, canoeing, books and classical music (supporting Minnesota Public Radio). Will was a musician and played trumpet well for the Largemouth Brass, Mesabi Community Band and Ely’s Community Band. As a singer, he sang in many choral groups throughout his life. He loved the stage and participated in dramatic arts, supporting Ely’s local arts by acting in the town’s plays and singing in musicals.
The earth was by far Will’s most meaningful love. As a nine-year-old boy, Will’s reverence for nature began when he spent summers canoeing at Camp Keewaydin, Temagami, ON, Canada.
In Ely, he enjoyed many Boundary Water Canoe Area and Quetico, ON, Canadian adventures and taught his deep respect for Mother Earth to young people as an Outward Bound instructor. He volunteered for the Forest Service near Ely and fought fires out west. He and his wife volunteered for the Department of National Resources, counting loons for the yearly loon count in MN. As a staunch conservationist, he supported many national and local environmental groups.
For 40 years Will was a fermenter extraordinaire, brewing beer, baking sour dough bread and boiling down sap for maple syrup. Will loved the corn harvest in Rock Port, MO. He chopped a lot of wood, even building his quaint log cabin by hand, where he lived for 12 years.
Will was a pacifist who was conscious of the suffering of people around the world, especially because of hunger and war. He was a sensitive soul and a remarkable, humble man who thanked the universe every day for his life.
Will married Sharon Angel Magliulo on December 3, 2000. Will and Angel lived in Ely for the last 18 years of his life. He loved and supported his community. He biked or walked everywhere; however, his cherished International Harvester Scout II was always in the garage if needed. He and Angel shared a rich, quiet, private life in their modest stucco home surrounded by gardens on Pattison St. They travelled the world together just as he did when he was a bachelor. Will left no rock unturned, and their life together was filled with nature and culture.
In time, after many years, his stepson Christopher, became the son he never had. They had a true bond.
Will was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Helen Hauser. He is survived by his wife Sharon Angel Magliulo, his stepson, Christopher Stanley Hunt, his only sibling, Cheryl Harms Hauser and nieces: Wendy Longacre Brown, Sarah Longacre Ehlers and nephew, Blake Longacre.
Will and his family would like to thank the compassionate and dedicated staff of Spectrum, Ely’s Memory Care Facility, East Range Hospice, Northwoods Partners and Ely’s Essentia Health Clinic’s staff for loving and caring for Will and Angel in Will’s final months. Finally, Will and his family give heartfelt thanks, gratitude and appreciation and send so much love to all the friends and family for their gifts of tenderness, warmth and support over the years and during the past weeks.
