Janice Louise Hager

Janice Hager, born December 28, 1931, in Montezuma County, she passed away at home, surrounded by the quiet comfort of the place she loved. Janice dedicated much of her life to the land, with a deep-rooted passion for gardening, farming, and outdoor work. She valued hard work, believed in making things last, and passed those values down through generations. As a longtime 4-H club leader, she shared these lessons with countless young people, teaching through example and hands-on experience. She will be remembered not only for her steady presence and strong work ethic but also for the warmth she brought to her kitchen. Her cinnamon rolls and cherry triangles were family favorites—made from scratch, served often, and never forgotten. 

Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Tommy Hager; her daughter, Connie; and her parents, Laura and Carl Wilkerson. She is survived by her sons Don, Rodney, and David; her grandchildren Jamie, Christopher, Peggy, Jason, Brandy, Shan, Jesse, and Krystal; and her mutt dog, Bandie, along with the Ol’ Cat. 

Services will be held on Friday, August 8th at 2:00 p.m. at Ertel Funeral Home, with a graveside service to follow at Summit Ridge Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband, Tommy. Family and close friends are invited to a potluck dinner at Janice’s home at 6:00 p.m. Janice’s life was a quiet testament to resilience, responsibility, and care—for her family, her community, and the work that gave her purpose. She will be deeply missed.

In addition to her work and family life, Janice remained active in the community through various social clubs. She had a lifelong love for square dancing and found joy on the dance floor. She was also a dedicated member of a women’s bowling league, participating regularly until the age of 93.