Rex Lane, 94

Rex Lane, age 94, of Three Rivers, and formerly of White Pigeon, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers.
He was born March 15, 1923, in Bronson, one of seven children born to Earl and Nettie (Moon) Lane. There were five boys and two girls in the family. His father was hurt in a farming accident when Rex was in the eighth grade, and like many of his generation, he left school to work on the family farm and a neighbor’s farm. Rex was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country during World War II, first in Europe, and for a brief time in the Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and awarded the Bronze Star. He was active in the American Legion and in Army reunions with the Blackhawk Division. Upon his return from the Army, he met and married his wife, Patsy, and they had a son, Mike. Rex worked at a gas station during this time, and after his divorce, he took to the road and worked in construction on the highway in several states, including New York, Wisconsin, Michigan and Indiana. A later marriage brought a daughter and four step-children.
Rex retired from the LaGrange County Road Commission in the early seventies. He moved to Fort Meyers, Fla., for a brief time and worked at a golf course and met his third wife, Shirley (Castle) Lane. They had a child together named Dianne Lane. They moved to White Pigeon, where they owned a motel for eleven years. Rex also worked in maintenance and Shirley managed White Pigeon Manor for several years as well. Rex enjoyed telling stories of his past, both true and not so true. He also enjoyed farming with his horses along with gardening and raising various breeds of chickens. He enjoyed fishing, and liked having coffee and breakfast with his friends at Rachel’s Restaurant in White Pigeon. Rex’s claim to fame was that he met Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken in Florida, and again in Indiana, and later attended his funeral.
Rex is survived by his children, Mike and Susan (Wildridge) Lane of Ellentown, Fla., and Diane (David Hood) Lane of Detroit; his nephew and personal representative David and Irene (Miller) Lane of LaGrange; and several other nieces and nephews.
Rex requested that his body be donated to the University of Michigan anatomical program for research studies. There will be no services at this time. Assistance was provided by Farrand Funeral Home of White Pigeon.