Joyce Rae Hage

Joyce Rae Hage, 75, died with family and dearest friends by her side in her mountain home outside of Trinidad, CO. In the recent years she battled with great elegance and strength many illnesses. Her Lord and savior Jesus Christ called her home on August 29, 2014. As a previous long time resident of Yorkville, Joyce will be laid to rest in Cross Lutheran Cemetery next to her beloved husband.

Joyce was born February 1, 1939 in Aurora, IL, the daughter of Charles Albert and Pearl (Neubauer) Greenacre. In 1955, Joyce married what would be her lifelong mate Joel Edward Hage. Together they raised five children in the Midwestern farm tradition eventually settling in on Walker Road in Yorkville where Joyce thrived creating a beautiful home and garden for her family. From perennial flowers, fresh garden veggies to the simple overwhelming large lush crop of green lawn, Joyce was the Master Gardner we all strive to be. Helping Joel with the farm animals was a daily event. Her special talent was nanny to the tender piglets that needed just that extra care. Her sewing craft brought joy to others in the way of reupholstered family heirlooms and tag sale finds, stylish clothing, Barbie clothes and quilts to be treasured long into the future. Her hours of canning and preserving were a way of life but are now remembered as sweet treasures of the past.

Throughout her life Joyce worked outside of the home in the local pharmacy, hardware and nursing home. The skills she learned outside the home only strengthened her ability to care for others throughout her life. In her final times she related to those that cared for her with detailed remembrances of her days as a caregiver.

In 2001 Joyce and Joel moved to Trinidad, CO to start the last great adventure of their life. Moving near their oldest daughter Rhonda, who later became her caretaker, they built a treasured mountain home with a new kind of yard that included high mountain plants, wildlife, rocks and vistas. They made new friends and had new experiences. Now together again Joel and Joyce are on to the ultimate adventure.

Joyce’s love, endless strength, enduring elegance and wry wit will be remembered by all that survive her including children, Rhonda Olin, Joel (Renate) Hage, Shelly (Michael) Geers, Michael (Sharyn) Hage, and Missy (Eric Hufstetler) Hage; her grandchildren, Derik (Trish) Olin, Nichole (fiancé, Dean Tambling) Russell, Josh Ewing, Jason Ewing, Casey Jo Hage, Ryan Geers, Adam (Erica) Geers, Heather (John) Delgado, Jessica (Bob) Diaz, Simone Hage, Brittany Hage, Jamie Hage, Trent Hufstetler, Laryssa Hufstetler, and Macayla Hufstetler; also 14 great-grandchildren; special friends, Mona Borrego, Dan Veverka, Mike and Rhonda Taillon. She rest in eternal peace with her parents; husband, Joel E. Hage; son-in-law, William Olin; two sisters, Mary Lou Kreminski and Debbie Greenacre Smith.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, September 4, 2014 at Cross Lutheran Church, 8609 Route 47 in Yorkville, IL with Pastor Herbert Grieves, officiating. Interment will follow in Cross Lutheran Cemetery in Yorkville, IL.

Friends may visit from 5:00 until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at the Larson-Nelson Funeral Home, 1617 North Bridge Street (Routes 34 & 47) in Yorkville, IL.

Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Homes & Crematory,