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Lawrence Giles “Larry” Hopkins, age 92, of White Pigeon, Mich., passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 2, 2010, at Sturgis Hospital.
He was born Aug. 4, 1917, in Delavan, Ill.,a son to the late Robert and Linnie Lue (Giles) Hopkins.
Mr. Hopkins grew up on the farm where he was born and graduated from Delavan High School. He continued his education at the University of Illinois where he graduated with a degree in agriculture economics.
On March 25, 1939, he married Onalee Marshall Hopkins in LaSalle, Ill. She died Jan. 14, 2009.
He and Onalee lived in a variety of communities in Illinois where he worked for various agriculture governmental lending agencies. In 1955 they moved to Otsego, Mich., where he assumed the position of branch manager for the First National Bank and Trust Company of Kalamazoo.
In December of 1955, the family moved to Sturgis where he has lived since that time. In Sturgis, he served in different capacities including vice president, executive vice president, and president of the Citizens State Bank and later Bank One. He also served as chairman of the board of the bank until he retired in 1987.
Larry was an active member of many community organizations. Some of those include: the Sturgis Rotary Club, First Presbyterian Church, the Sturgis Hospital Board, Chamber of Commerce Board, Klinger Lake Country Club, plus other boards and organizations where he served as president, vice president and treasurer.
He enjoyed travel, playing golf and bridge, keeping up with friendships and current events as well as taking great pride in his family.
He is survived by one son, Randall (Pamela) Hopkins of Madison, Wisc.;, three grandsons, Jonathan (Kristen) Hopkins of South Burlington, Vt., Gregory (Taura) Hopkins of Walla Walla, Wash., and Lawrence Gale Hopkins of Eugene, Ore.; four great-grandchildren, Arwen Elizabeth, Milo Giles, Nathaniel Lynn, Jude, Henry and Theodore; one brother, Stephen (Helen) Hopkins of Delavan, Ill.; daughter-in-law, Susan Gale Hopkins of Walla Walla, Wash.; sister-in-law, Donald (Glennlyn “Lindy” Marshall) Huling of Peru, Ill.; and brother-in-law, William Coleman of Boulder, Colo.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; one son, Marshall Lawrence Hopkins; brother, Robert Hopkins and sister, Elizabeth Coleman.
In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service celebrating the life of Lawrence Hopkins will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis at a later date to be announced.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Hopkins’ memory consider the Sturgis Foundation, 310 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091.
The Hackman Family Funeral Homes — Hackman Chapel of Sturgis is handling the arrangements.
The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
