Grace Josephine Haines ( DeLange), age 82, passed away on March 5, 2024. She was born on November 24, 1941 to Byron and Myrtle DeLange in the family home in Arden Hills. She had six siblings, Yvonne, Raymond, Wayne, David, Colette, and Susan. She attended Mounds View High School and graduated in 1959. Her granddaughter Macy would also later graduate from the same high school.

She began working while still living in the family home as a neighborhood babysitter. After graduating she got a job at Admiral Merchants. There she met her first husband Richard. They lived in White Bear Lake where she learned how to blend a family and became a positive influence on Richard’s four children, Mike, Nikki, Dana and Larry. Grace and Richard had three children, Todd, David and Lora. Grace and her good friend Carol Meath operated Rocking Horse Farms, a horse farm where they not only had their own horses but boarded horses for others.

Grace and Richard eventually parted ways and Grace moved farther north. First to Forest Lake and then to Taylors Falls in the little white house next to the school. She worked in the administration office for St. Croix Hospital. It was then that she married her husband of 40 years Thomas. They bought land in Shafer where she again blended families with Tom’s kids, Pat, Connie, Thomasine, Georgianna, Brian and Steve.

It was while living in Shafer that Grace and Thomas had their son Frederick. The Shafer farm was a busy place on the weekends with family, neighbors and other relatives coming to visit. Grace loved being a grandmother. Grace spent a lot of time preparing meals (and cocktails) on the weekends for gatherings of sleigh rides, horse drawn carriage rides in Taylors falls, a local parade, a hunting group or just a place for kids and grandkids to come and enjoy some country air. One of her favorite events at the farm was hosting a sleigh ride and hot chocolate field trip for Fred’s third grade classmates.

Grace went to work for the Shafer Post Office as a delivery driver once Fred was in school. She enjoyed getting out and seeing neighbors and connecting on a personal level while on her route. She also didn’t miss an opportunity for a good gossip session at the local post office or Mary Ann's Hair Salon.

Grace’s love language was Acts of Service. She was always volunteering at St. Francis Catholic Church, helping an elderly neighbor or family member in need or babysitting grandkids on the weekends. Her children picked up on this concept as well. Two of her children retired as police officers, as well as two were Veterans of foreign wars.

After Fred graduated from high school Grace and Tom moved to Siren Wisconsin. They found a “great deal” small cabin on Big Doctor Lake. They joined the parish family at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Grantsburg where she continued to volunteer and take part in parish activities. They settled into lake life and continued to host weekend get-togethers around the kitchen table. Within a few years the opportunity to buy some land just west of town in Daniels Township provided them with eighty acres to plan their next chapter. Grace continued to feed the masses on the weekends and made the old Parker Farmhouse a home until they built their final home on the property. Grace was so excited to live in a house with no stairs, in-floor heating and finally a garage to park the truck overnight.

Grace loved horses. After Thomas passed away in 2018 she wanted to keep the horses at the farm. She loved to watch them out the window and spend time with them in the pasture. She even got in the saddle a few times. The weekend get-togethers got smaller, but Grace continued to make her overnight rolls, apple crisp, rice crispy bars, and the favorite chocolate dump cake for birthday celebrations for the kids, grandkids and friends.

After a few years of living alone on the hill in Daniels Township, Grace moved to Eagle Ridge Assisted Living in Osceola. One of the best parts of the move was that she was able to take her moose mount with her. It is mounted above the fireplace in the main area of the building. Many visitors have heard her tell the tale of the hunting trip with Tom and Pat. Grace is referred to by many as the “Moose Lady” of Eagle Ridge.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Haines; son, David Hilger; siblings, David DeLange, Yvonne Lynch, Raymond DeLange, Colette Prokop, Wayne DeLange, and her parents.

Grace is survived by children, Todd (Jean) Jagodinski of Elk River, Lora (Tim) Hanks of Blaine, and Fred (Amanda) of Dresser; grandchildren, Mae (Rob) Jagodzinksi, Steve (Shelby) Jagodzinski, Mitchell (Cassandra) Jagodzinski, Ellen (Jason) Jagodzinski, Macy Hanks, Ada, Lucy, Charlie and Isaac Haines; great-grandchildren, Bennet and Blake; sister, Susan Canine; nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbors and friends. Grace also leaves behind Hilger and Haines children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of her two blended families, especially Pat (Darlene) Haines who continued to provide love and comfort for the last several years.

We would like to thank the Ownership and Staff at Eagle Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care. Grace was cared for with love and compassion.

In lieu of Memorials, please pay it forward in supporting an organization or an individual with an Act of Service.

Last Update: Mar 13, 2024 8:36 am CDT