By Nicole Hamilton
The Cincinnati Enquirer

VILLA HILLS - Aloysius B. Van Hagen reveled in the simple pleasures of living - from spending time with his children and grandchildren to catching fish in his Visalia, Ky., campground lake.

As regional director of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, he worked long hours to improve conditions for union workers.

Aloysius Van Hagen died Friday at St. Elizabeth South Medical Center in Edgewood of complications from myelodysplastic syndrome, a condition of the blood. The Villa Hills man was 73.

"He truly enjoyed the everyday life," said his granddaughter, Sommer Kidwell of Villa Hills.

In 1991, the year Mr. Van Hagen retired from AFSCME, then-mayor of Cincinnati David Mann proclaimed Sept. 7 Al Van Hagen Day for his efforts to provide better benefits to unionized city workers.

"He believed benefits were important to workers - not just more pay," said his wife, Virginia Leopold Van Hagen.

Mr. Van Hagen began his career with AFSCME, then located downtown, in September 1961 when it was Ohio Council #8. Eventually, he became regional director.

Raised in Covington, Mr. Van Hagen graduated from St. Xavier High School. He served in the Army for 18 months during the Korean War. He received a bachelor's degree in business in 1961 at Villa Madonna College - now Thomas More College..

Mr. Van Hagen was a member of the Kelly Furnish Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Knights of Columbus. He also was a Kentucky Colonel.

Besides his wife and granddaughter, survivors include a son, Daniel B., of Ludlow; four daughters, Tina Kidwell of Villa Hills, Susan Levermann of Erlanger, Judy Murdock of Boise, Idaho, and Kathy Bunting of Charleston, S.C.; a sister, Rene Finger of Farmington Hills, Mich.; and 13 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Church, 2470 Lorraine Court, Crescent Springs. Mass of Christian burial will follow.

Burial will be in Mother of God Cemetery, Covington.

Memorials: Kidney Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, 2200 Victory Parkway, Suite 510, Cincinnati, 45206, or to the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, 2400 Reading Road, Cincinnati, 45202-1458.

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E-mail nhamilton@enquirer.com