The Edward Hoag

Edward Hoag was born September 29, 1920 in Ridott, IL, the son of Jesse E. and Nellie Anderson Hoag. He grew up in Freeport, IL, graduating from Freeport High School in 1938. In 1942, he received a B.A. from the University of Iowa.

Following service in the United States Army Air Corps as a Physical Training instructor and gunnery instructor, he returned to his former position of Physical Director of the YMCA in Freeport. In 1947, he moved to Peoria, IL, where he was Minister of Education for the First Federated Church, a position he held for two years. Afterwards, he enrolled at McCormick Theological Seminary, from which he received a Master of Divinity degree in 1952.

Following his ordination by Peoria Presbytery in June of 1952, he served as Assistant Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Minneapolis, MN until August of 1957, at which time he was called to be pastor of the United Presbyterian Church of Jamestown, ND. In December of 1965, he was called as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Scottsbluff, NE. The congregation of that church elected him Pastor Emeritus at the time of his retirement on December 31, 1982.

Ed married Marjorie Jean North on July 17, 1943. They had three children: Martin (Linda) Hoag of Fargo, ND, Susan (Gregory) Waite of Absarokee, MT, and Deborah (Douglas) Landers of Fargo, ND. Ed and Marjorie had six grandchildren: Andrew Hoag, Eric (Melissa) Hoag, Kate (Jason) Rader, Peggy Waite, Jack (Lexi) Landers, and Libby (Caleb) Luecke. They also had four great-grandchildren: Samuel and Charlie Rader, and Alexandra and Lauren Hoag.

Ed served as Moderator of the Synod of North Dakota and the Synod of the Rocky Mountains, as well as having served as Moderator of the Presbyteries of Fargo-Oakes and Box Butte.
He served on the General Assembly Council on Evangelism and the Permanent Committee on Nominations of the General Assembly.

During his pastorate in Nebraska, he was appointed by the Governor to the State of Nebraska Council on Alcoholism and served as a member and chairman of the Region 1 Alcoholism Advisory Council.

In December of 1982, Ed and Marjorie moved to their retirement home on Bass/Elbow Lake near Battle Lake, MN. For ten years following retirement, Ed served as Stated Supply Pastor of Maine Presbyterian Church in Maine Township, MN. Following that, he filled in as an occasional supply preacher in various churches, including Baker/Downer. Ed and Marjorie had been residing at Touchmark since 2003.

Edward died Tuesday, March 26, 2013, surrounded by his family, at his home at Touchmark in Fargo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are requested to First Presbyterian Church of Fargo, ND or to Jamestown College Physical Therapy Program.