June G. Hoge

June Greenman Gunning Hoge, 91, a long time Princeton resident, but recently of Danville, IL, died Thursday, February 24 at the North Logan Healthcare Center, Danville. She was under Hospice care following hospitization for an acute respiratory infection complicated by Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Cremation rites were accorded. Mrs. Hoge was born on November 1, i913, near Macoun, Sasketchawan to Merle Greenman and Cora Manning Greenman who had previously come to the northern Plains from Illinois. In 1919 the family, which then included younger brothers DeArmand and Melvin, returned to Mrs. Greenman's Aurora home, and shortly thereafter both parents died in the Spanish Flu pandemic. Mrs. Hoge and her brothers were then reared by their paternal aunt Edna Cushing and her husband Harry at their farm near Providence in Bureau County. Mrs. Hoge graduated from Tiskilwa High School in 1930 and enrolled at Illinois Wesleyan University. Wishing to contribute to her family financially, she transferred to Illinois State Normal after one year and received her teaching certificate, allowing her to begin her teaching career in the Tiskilwa Elementary system two months before her nineteenth birthday. She married Hobart Gunning on August 31, 1940, and settled in Princeton where she undertook the duties of housewife and, later, mother. After her children became of school age, Mrs. Hoge returned to teaching as a bedside and special needs instructor for the Princeton schools and continued in this role until the late 1970's. During thies time she also served as the Executive Secretary of the local chapter of the American Red Cross. In the late forties the Gunnings built a summer cottage at the Knights Templar Club near Summit Lake, WI which she enjoyed for many years. After her husband Hobart died in August 1970, she remained active in the community and revisited a long held passion for classical music, beginning a thirty year attendance at Chicago Symphony subscription concerts. On October 19,1979 she married A.G. (Glenn) Hoge, and resided with him at his rural Princeton home until his death in April, 1986. They enjoyed travelling, summers in Wisconsin and their blended family. She returned to town in the early nineties and later resided at Greenfield Retirement Home for three years before her move to Danville. Mrs. Hoge was a member of the Hampshire Colony UCC Church and served on its Diaconate Board. In addition to the Red Cross, she was a member of the Bureau-Putnam County Heart Association, the Perry Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, Friends in Council and the Bureau Valley Country Club. She delivered and coordinated operations for Mobile Meals . In addition to her two husbands and parents, Mrs. Hoge was preceded in death by her brothers and the Cushings. She is survived by her daughter Joan Richards (George) of Danville, son Stephen Gunning (Sarah Cooper) of Princeton, stepsons Thomas Hoge (Carole) of Merrill, WI, and Richard Hoge (Jay) of Chicago, seven grandchildren and five great-granchildren. A celebration of her life will be held at the Hampshire Colony Church on Saturday, March 5, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a reception in the Church Hall. Memorials may be directed to either Hampshire Colony or the Perry Memorial Hospital Foundation.