John F. Hager, one of the founding shareholders of the firm, was a native of De Pere, and had 37 years’ experience advising individuals and business owners in a wide range of estate and business planning matters, including personal and family estate planning, the purchase and sale of businesses, formation of new businesses, business succession planning and banking and commercial transactions. John maintained a significant estate planning and probate, estate and trust settlement and administration practice, including the preparation of wills and trusts, financial and health care powers of attorney, marital property agreements and other estate planning techniques and documents.
John was awarded an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell peer review rating service, the highest rating available, reflecting an attorney who has achieved the height of professional excellence and is recognized for the highest level of skill and integrity.
John, was also a licensed Certified Public Accountant, who received his degree in Accounting from Marquette University in 1979 and his Law Degree from Marquette University Law Schoolin 1982, where he was a Thomas More scholar. John was admitted to practice in all State and Federal courts in Wisconsin and the United States Tax Court. His professional affiliations included the State Bar of Wisconsin, Brown County Bar Association, Wisconsin Institute of Certified Public Accountants,Estate Planning Council of Northeast Wisconsin and Green Bay Estate Planning Forum. John was a frequent speaker and lecturer on business and estate planning matters, most recently he presented The Probate Process: From Start to Finish, through the National Business Institute.
John took great pride in his civic and community involvement. His past community involvement included serving on the Boards of Directors of St. Vincent Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital Medical Center, the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, Inc., the St. Norbert College Gift Planning Advisory Committee, the Mutual Housing Authority of Green Bay, Inc. and the Greater Green Bay Chamber Healthy Lifestyles Cooperative; chaired the Friends of St. Vincent Hospital Foundation Board; served on the Notre Dame of De Pere Board of Education, the St. Vincent/St. Mary/Prevea Hospital Advisory Committee Chair; St. Vincent Hospital Advisory Council; and the St. Vincent Hospital Young Philanthropist Award Committee; St. Norbert College Medical College of Wisconsin RAAC; St. Norbert College Donald Schneider School of Business Board of Advisors; participated in the Greater Green Bay Chamber Leadership Green Bay Program, Advance Marketing Committee and CEO Roundtable and involvement with the Junior Achievement Project Business Program and United Way; and coached a wide variety of sports at the grade school and high school levels. John was a member of the De Pere ASA Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame.
John was named one of the “50 People You Should Know” by the Bay Business Journal and selected as one of the 2009 Leaders in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal. John was also a finalist for the 2009 Best of the Bay award for Best Attorney/Law Firm, as selected by the Green Bay Press Gazette readers and was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers of America 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. John was a recipient of the 2013 Green Bay Packers Community Quarterback Award in recognition of the community service he provides. John was also a recipient of the 2020 Leo Frigo Award presented by The Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, its highest recognition, to participants of Leadership Green Bay who have made, and continue to make, a significant difference in their community through volunteerism and community leadership.
Read John’s remembrance here.
