Col. Russell A. Hage

Col. Russell A. Hage (RET), age 89, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday morning, May 13, 2008, in Muskegon. He was born March 20, 1919 in Ravenna to Thomas W. and Cora (Spoelman) Hage; and had been a life resident of the area. Russ was a 1939 graduate of Muskegon High School and was a member of Muskegon High's first baseball team. He married Ruth L. Dame in Grand Rapids on August 29, 1941 while home on a weekend leave from the U.S. Army. He was inducted into the Army in January of 1941 and served at the Harbor Defenses of Puget Sound, Washington. He graduated from Officer Candidate School in August 1942. He served with the 440th AAA (AW) Battalion in the European Theater earning five battle stars and a Purple Heart (wounded in the Battle of the Bulge). He was released from active duty in December 1945 and joined the active Army Reserve where he served until 1975, retiring as a Colonel. He recently was a board member of the 440th Battalion Association serving as coordinator and editor of its newsletter. Russ worked as an accountant in the Muskegon area for twelve years and in November 1958 purchased and managed Hage's Christian Supplies, which was founded by his father in 1929. He also purchased and published the Sunday School Guide for six years in the 1970's. He was a member of Christian Booksellers Association, serving on the Board of Director's for six years. Over the years he served on various judiciaries connected with the Reformed Church of America, serving on the Michigan Synod Executive Council for six years and the Classis of Muskegon for many years as delegate, president and treasurer. Russ had served as deacon, elder and controller with Fifth Reformed Church. He was a Charter Member of Pine Grove Reformed Church and most recently was a dedicated member of Unity Reformed Church for the past 16 years. SURVIVORS include two daughters, Judith (George) Fusko of Decatur, MI and Maryl (David) Ritsema of Norton Shores; six grandchildren Michael (Jennifer) Fusko, Elizabeth (Tom) Triesenberg and Lianna (Shawn) McLeese, Patrick (Jacklyn) Ritsema, Benjamin (Sarah) Ritsema, Loralee (Keith) Oppenhuizen; eleven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Glyndowyn (Vernon) Harris of Longview, TX, Gladys (Albert) Platt of Newton, KS, two sisters-in-law, Trudy Schrier of Montgomery, AL and Marian Hoekstra of Kalamazoo, MI; 2 brothers-in-law, Logan Platt of Plano, TX and Paul (Marie) Dame of Kalamazoo, MI and by a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, of 62 years, Ruth, on December 8, 2003 and by his sister, Betty Platt. SERVICES will be 1PM Friday, May 16, 2008, at Unity Reformed Church (1521 Porter Rd.) with the Rev. Kyle DeYoung officiating. Burial will be in Lakeshore Cemetery, Grand Haven, MI. VISITATION with Russ's family will be 2-4 and 6-8 PM Thursday at The Lee Chapel Sytsema Funeral Homes, Inc. 6291 S. Harvey Street Norton Shores, MI 49444 231-798-1100 For a more lasting memorial you are asked to consider Unity Reformed Church or the Muskegon Rescue Mission.