Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Van Laanen, Ward A. "Arch" September 18, 2008
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Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com May 8, 2014, 12:35 pm

Hastings Reminder – Sat. Sept. 27, 2008

LAKE ODESSA- Ward A. “Arch” Van Laanen, age 73, of Lake Odessa, passed away 
late Thursday evening, September 18, 2008.

Arch was born in Iron Mountain, on September 19, 1934 to John E. and Anna R. 
(Robbins) Van Laanen. He was the eighth child in a family of two girls and six 
boys.

Arch attended the Iron Mountain Public Schools, received his bachelor’s degree 
from Northern Michigan University, and completed his education with a master’s 
degree from Michigan State University.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1954-1956.

Arch was united in marriage to Elaine Nickel on November 27, 1959 in St. Clair 
Shores. He taught school in Pontiac, for two years before joining the staff at 
Lakewood Public Schools in 1962 as a guidance counselor. 

Arch retired from Lakewood in 1990 as the Director of Guidance Counseling.

Throughout the years, Arch had been a member of the Lake Odessa Lions Club, 
served on the Ionia County Mental Health Board, served as president of the Lake 
Odessa Library Board, and was a member of the Lake Odessa Zoning Board of 
Appeals. In whatever capacity, Arch was always willing to be of service to his 
community.

In his spare time, he was an avid reader and devoted fisherman.

Arch is survived by his wife, Elaine; daughters, Victoria and Mark Erickson, 
and Elizabeth and Uli Baecker; grandchildren, Kyle and Stephanie Erickson, 
Natalie Erickson, and Alex Erickson; and numerous nephews and nieces. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Larry, Peter, William, Jack 
and Bob VanLaanen; and sisters, Rosamond Dabb and Evelyn Colwell.

The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 27 at the 
St. Edwards Catholic Church in Lake Odessa. The rosary will be prayed at St. 
Edwards Church at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorial contributions be made to the 
Lake Odessa Public Library or the Lakewood Educational Foundation.

Arrangements made by Koops Funeral Chapel in Lake Odessa.




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