George Joseph Hage, 94 of Columbia, MO passed away on June 15, 2018. He was born on 9.6.23 to Shaheen S. Hage and Jamilia Daou Hage in Amsterdam, New York. George was the youngest of six children of Lebanese immigrants. He married Nellie Ketaily Hage in 1948 in Syracuse, New York, and graduated from Syracuse University in 1949. George and Nellie had three children, Dede, George and Mike and spent their early years living and working in the Hage family hotel in Fort Plain, New York. In 1957 George moved his family to Tucson, Arizona where he entered employment in the post office and eventually became a United States Postal Inspector. He finished his career in St Louis, MO investigating high level mail fraud cases. He and Nellie were long time members of Incarnate Word Catholic Church in Creve Coeur, MO.
George and Nellie moved to Columbia, MO in 2005 to Tiger Place, an independent living, aging-in-place research community, affiliated with the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing and School of Engineering. Tiger Place has been a hub for the development and testing of innovative technology to help people age in place. George and Nellie were the 1st residents to sign up to use research sensors in their apartment. George felt his continued participation in all of the research was his way of contributing to the improvement of care for the aging. George lived there for 13 years and is the longest continuously residing person at Tiger Place.
He is a past foodbank volunteer and has volunteered at Woodhaven for many years. George was a faithful member of St Thomas Moore Newman Center, Columbia, MO. He was known for his deep faith, his connection to people, his love for family, his ready smile, his sense of humor, and his love of helping everyone. George felt his greatest accomplishment in recent years was the publishing of his autobiography, “Life Luck and Legacy: A Memoir for Posterity.”
George was a wonderful Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Father-in-Law, Uncle, brother, son and friend. He was preceded in death by Nellie, his wife of 56 years, his son Mike, his parents and 5 siblings. George is survived by His Children, Dede (Bob) Minner, Columbia and George (Renee) Hage, Boise, Idaho, his Grandchildren, Angie Minner, Columbia, Joseph Minner, St Louis, Michael (Suzannah) Hage, Boise, Idaho, Sarah (Austin) Schaff, Casper, Wyoming, Megan (Kevin) Pilote, Boise, Idaho, nine great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the Newman Center, with Fr. Rich Litzau celebrating Mass. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 22, 2018.
The family is suggesting memorial donations to Woodhaven, 1405 Hathman Rd, Columbia, MO 65201, or Free Wheelchair Mission at freewheelchairmission.org/ib
