March 7, 2013 Service: March 21, 2013 " This is the day which the Lord hath made , let us rejoice and be glad in it!" (Psalm 118:24) That was the opening message Bob Hague gave each Sunday morning at the Motocross track for 20 years as a servant for God, with Motocross Ministry. His family said farewell to him on Thursday March 7, 2013. It was a tough road to get there, but they know he is in glory , now. They are thankful for the love and guidance, and provision he gave to his family in his 57 year marriage to his wife, Bette. He just wanted everyone to be happy, and get along, and to have a cup of coffee and some conversation. He had simple needs, and much humility. The newspaper, coffee, some good bread, popcorn, his children, grandchildren,and his wife , feeding the squirrels , birds, and deer were some of his favorite things. Robert Ellis Hague, age 83, of Grand Rapids, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great- grandfather, entered into heavenly glory on Thursday March 7, 2013. He was born June 1, 1929 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was the son of Clark and Muriel Hague, brother to Marjorie (Rasmussen Taylor) and John Hague. The family moved from Grand Rapids to Ionia , Mi. where he met his life-long pal, Roger Buxton, who continued to be a faithful friend during Bob's illness. Bob began working at the age of 5 , delivering newspapers and later working in the Buxton family store. He attended Ionia High School, and was senior class president in 1947. After graduation, he attended Michigan State College for 1 year, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy in which he served from October 1948 to October 1952. He was a proud Navy man who served his country on the first aircraft carrier The USS Valley Forge (CV-45) to reach the seas off the coast, at the start of the Korean War. He worked as a dispersement clerk, distributing payroll, a job that suited him. He was likable and a friend to most everyone he met, especially on payday! After traveling the World for 4 years , and receiving 5 medals of service, he returned to Grand Rapids and studied at Davenport School of Business. He was the president of his fraternity, the Delta Lambda Chapter of The Phi Theta Pi. It was in the stairwell at Davenport, that he spotted Bette Messner, the love of his life, whom he later married on October 21, 1955. Together they had 3 children : Betsy, Brian and Brenda. Bob became the manager of the Pittsburgh paint store on 28th st. for 20 years, holding "paint school" in Chicago to train others in the industry. He later branched out to own his own paint and wallpaper stores: ClareMar Home decorating, and then worked in sales for Fuller- O'brien Paints. His knowledge of the paint and coatings world was extensive. He was the best color mixer in the region, before the age of color analyzers. He matched paint to any samples that customers brought in and he could match it, exactly. He was not a motorcycle guy, though his wife 's calling to start a ministry at the Motocross track , and his son's racing led his family to 20 years of following the Michigan Motocross circuit with Motocross Ministry . Some of his greatest memories and years were at the Motocross track, where he also announced race coverage. His gift for public speaking was put to task at motocross tracks across Michigan, the Pontiac Silverdome Supercross, Red Bud TNT, Loretta Lynn's Motocross Nationals, and tracks in Ohio and Indiana. After many times of announcing at The Iron Mustangs Motorcycle Club's Motocross races, and establishing friendships with the biker group based in Detroit, Mi. , Bob was elected as an honorary member of their club. He was an unlikely candidate, as he never actually rode a motorcycle! He was just a great friend , a minister for God, and an appreciated announcer. Bob's final message to his children and grand children was to get along with one another, be happy, love others, and be generous. He loved them all, and told them so frequently. Welcoming him to his heavenly home was son-in-law Thomas Yeager , his siblings , parents, in- laws and many dear ones who preceded him to glory. Missing him, and carrying on God's mission are his wife, Betty (Messner), Children: Elizabeth Yeager, Brian and Beth (Lammers) Hague, Brenda and Rodney Terry , and his "unofficially adopted son" : Douglass Martin. Grandchildren: Brendan and Anastasia (Ybarra) Yeager, Baileigh Yeager, Chad Hague, Casey Hague, Hannah Terry , Zane Terry and Great- grandchild: Adeline Yeager. And, many close extended family friends, cousins, relatives and neighbors. A service in celebration of his life will be held Thursday , March 21st at 11:00 am in the Ofield Funeral Home Chapel , 4500 Kalamazoo SE . The family will meet with friends and relatives from 10-11:00 am before the service. An online registry is available at Ofieldfuneralhome.com.