Barbara Norene VanAken

Age 83 of Eaton Rapids died Tuesday, November 27, 2007. Born September 2, 1924 in Lansing, the daughter of Leon and Hazel (Potter) Battley. Barb was an Eastern High School graduate, class of 1943. She married Herb VanAken on the 18th of April in 1947 and began her lifetime career as a farm hand on the VanAken Farm. She retired from the Eaton Stamping Co. in Eaton Rapids. She bowled on Tuesday nights with the Eaton Stamping Bowling Team for nearly 40 years, and was a member of the Moose Lodge #288 in Lansing.

??? Surviving are her husband of 60 years, Herb; daughter, Marilyn (Kip) Sorlie of ?S. Dakota; sons, Robert VanAken? and Bruce (Deb) VanAken all of Eaton Rapids; 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; 3 sisters, June Greenhoe, Ruth Hettinger and Nelda Tingay; brother, Dale (Mary) Battley; several nieces and nephews.

??? Funeral services will be Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 1:00 P.M. from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. For those desiring memorial gifts may be made to the Eaton Rapids Senior Center in memory of Barb VanAken.