Jim Lane, 83

James E. Lane, age 83, of Burr Oak, died on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 of Parkinson’s disease.

Born December 16, 1936 to Harry and Gladys (Moon) Lane, James is survived by his wife Bonita (Offenbecher) Lane, son James E. Lane II (Sharon) of Zeeland, Michigan; granddaughters Nicole Lane, Jennifer Andersen, Jayme Belanger, and Nancy Mendez, along with eight great-grandchildren.   He is also survived by brothers Walt (Janet) Lane and David (Diana) Lane and sisters Emmy Kloko, Nora Coler, Cooky (Sam) Currier, and by several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Jim graduated from Bronson High School in 1955 and served as president of his senior class.  After high school, Jim was employed at Rubber Products in Burr Oak.

In 1960, Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served for two years as an instructor of electrical generator repair.  He attained the rank of E5.

After the Army, Jim was employed by Bound Brook in Sturgis.

Jim then went to work at Kirsch, Co. in Sturgis, where he spent the next 30 years.  The majority of his time at Kirsch was as a Maintenance foreman and in the ending phase of his career he became Maintenance Purchaser.

During his time at Kirsch, Jim (despite the challenges of having a full time job and family) made good use of his G.I. Bill, attending Glen Oaks Community College, where he received an Associate’s Degree.  Challenging himself even further (and succeeding), he attended Western Michigan University handily earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

Never one to sit idle, Jim spent his retirement years working for 13 years at Glen Oaks Community College as a test proctor.

In his personal life, Jim was a dedicated and loving husband and father.  He had a shining intellect and at one time retained membership in the high IQ society Mensa.  He was ceaselessly curious, and as an autodidact, never stopped consuming information in whichever form he could get his eyes, ears, or hands on.  Specific pursuits would become hobbies – from photography, to computers, to travel; to you-name-it.

Jim will be sorely missed by all that knew him, and especially by his family.  To his family he stood as an outstanding example of how to live one’s life with unflagging integrity, forthrightness, and honesty.

No services are planned at this time.

Arrangements by Schipper Funeral Home.