Joseph 'Joe' R. Hazen
March 19, 1982 - September 19, 2021

JOSEPH R. HAZEN
Illinois City, IL - Joseph R. Hazen, 39, of Illinois City, Illinois, passed away on Sunday, September 19th, 2021, due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. Father Jason Bowden, cousin to Joe, will officiate. Burial will be in Illinois City Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Mike Stalkfleet, Jamey Kaller, Ron Terry, Josh Hazen, Matt Hazen, Adam Hazen. Honorary Pallbearers are Jake Mills, Travis Reed, Mike Channon, Garrett Wells, Bob Dierickx, and Ryan Garrison.

Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29th, 2021, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the family, in care of Amber Hazen. Online condolences may be made at www.wittichfuneralhome.com. A celebration of Joe's life will be scheduled at a later date, as well the 1st annual Joe Hazen Memorial Ride.

Joe was born on March 19th, 1982, in Muscatine, to Terry and Cindy (Miller) Hazen. He married Amber Stalkfleet on June 17th, 2006, in Illinois City. They have two wonderful sons, Trayton (13) and Jaxon (10).

Joe was a 2000 graduate of Muscatine High School. He worked at Miracle Car Wash (the AutoBrite) where he started dating his beautiful future wife, Amber. In 2004, Joe started at Hon and for the past several years, he was an HNI Product Model Maker. Joe enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson, fishing, hunting, boating, racing ATVs with his boys, and spending time with family and friends. Joe had been riding Harley's since his early 20s and loved riding with his wife and friends/family and going to Sturgis and other motorcycle events, but most of all, Joe's biggest loves were his wife and his two boys. Joe loved his family fiercely and always made sure they knew how much he loved and supported them. From coaching baseball and football, racing with them or just wrestling around being goofy, Joe was always there, especially for his boys. Anyone who knew Joe will remember him for his big smile, infectious laugh, his ornery personality, and his hugs. Joe gave the BEST hugs, those comforting hugs that you knew when he wrapped his arms around you, he was letting you know just how much he loved you. Joe will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to know him. Life, without Joe, will definitely not be the same.

Joe is survived by his wife, Amber; two sons, Trayton and Jaxon; his parents, Terry (Kim) Hazen and Cindy (Bob) Dierickx; his sister, Krissy Channon and husband Mike Channon; paternal grandmother, Carlene (Adolf) Nezerka; step-brothers Nick, Justin, Tyler, Jon and Ben; brother-in-law Mike Stalkfleet and wife Melissa; nieces and nephews Bryce, Savannah, Garrett, Avarie, Zach, Levi, Drake, Addison, and Eli; uncles, Mike (Janet) Hazen & Kenny Hazen; Aunt Lynne Reed and Chad Snyder; Uncle Ron (Deanne) Miller and a whole village of cousins and countless friends, including very special friends Jamey and Jessica Kaller.

Joe was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandmother, Leona Hazen; paternal grandfather, Ron Hazen; maternal grandparents, Sam and Irene Miller; uncle Lee Miller and wife Sally; uncle Jim Miller; aunt Jeanie Miller; cousins David and Denny Miller and his best friend, Dan "D-Bo" Best.

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