Joanne Hoag

Joanne Hoag, 85, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully on August 15th in her South Haven home with loved ones by her side.   

Joanne was born on December 1, 1930 in Evanston IL to Lester and Urna (Butt) Knott.  She attended Ripon College in Ripon WI where she was active in the Kappa Sigma Chi sorority, earned a degree in Biology and met the love of her life, Clyde Hoag.  Joanne and Clyde married on October 10, 1953 and they lived in New York City, enjoying the theater, ballet and restaurants. 

Joanne and Clyde moved to Toledo OH in 1958 to raise their family.  She was a homemaker, enjoying involvement in her children’s activities and her own volunteer work.  Later she worked for many years as a laboratory cytologist. 

Joanne and Clyde retired to Clyde’s hometown of South Haven where she enjoyed bird watching, crossword puzzles, and watching sunsets over Lake Michigan.  She had a lifelong passion for cooking and was a talented seamstress. Her family and friends were her greatest joy and she relished get-togethers, sharing stories and playing games. 

Left to cherish her memory are her devoted husband of 64 years, Clyde; children Laurie (Jim) Rice of Perrysburg OH; Bob (Debbie Koles) of Sylvania OH; and Jenny (Dominic Barberio) of Haslett MI; grandsons Jamie Rice, Rob Rice, and Nick Barberio.  She was preceded in death by her brother Bob Knott. 

The family would like to thank Private Duty Home Healthcare for their compassionate care, especially Mary, Stephanie, Tracey and Rhonda. 

Those wishing to make a commemorative contribution in Joanne’s honor, please consider the Al Van Humane Society, P.O. Box 421, South Haven Mi 49090 or the South Haven Lighthouse Preservation Fund, 335 Hubbard St. South Haven, MI.

Services will be announced at a later date.