Loren Haverkamp

Haverkamp, Loren P. "Bud" 3/11/1925 - 12/14/2016 Kalamazoo Age 91, passed on to our Lord on December 14, 2016. Loren was born March 11, 1925 in Kalamazoo to the late Nicholas L. and Anna (Dalm) Haverkamp. He was a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and Western Michigan University and was a member of Kappa Sigma Kappa Fraternity. Loren had been a long-time member of Crystal Cathedral Church. He was a World War II Army veteran, served in the Fourth Infantry Division and took part in the Normandy invasion. Loren was awarded four major battle stars and the Bronze Star Medal. He was vice president at Model Finance, a Chicago company, for several years. His wife Joann opened the first franchise of Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken in Kalamazoo, and later, she and Loren owned and operated the restaurant for 37 years, during which they also opened two other locations. He served on the Franchisee Advertising Committee and on the Franchisee Advisory Board. Upon retiring, the restaurants were sold to Rob Baldwin, a dedicated long-time employee who had been coached and mentored by Loren. Loren was a member of the Elk's Lodge No. 50, and he had been a member of the Singapore Yacht Club. Loren loved eating cashews, drinking wine, playing golf, being a goofy grandpa, telling silly stories and jokes, and spending time laughing and playing with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He adored them. Loren and Joann loved to travel. They visited England and several countries in Europe. They especially enjoyed their visits to Paris on several different occasions, including the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Normandy invasion. Loren was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was so proud of his family, never short on hugs, always said "I love you," and had an infectious laughsometimes making himself laugh so hard he had tears in his eyes. Loren is survived by Joann, the love of his life and wife of 47 years, and five children, Lori (Roger) Frazee, Steven (Robin) Haverkamp, Shelly Tiller, Robyn Clark, and Resa Williams. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, Shanna (Robert) Keller and their children, Lauren and Robert; Erica (Aaron) Stewart and their children, Bailey and Isaac; Tara (Jeff) Baker and their children, Grace, Edwin and Oliver; Nicholas Haverkamp, Katharine Baratta, Jenna and Derek Tiller, Christian and Matthew Williams, Katie (Taylor) Zeman, Michael Dwyer, Daniel and Nicholas Frazee; sister, Patricia (Jack) Tozer. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Elizabeth Linnemen and Marilyn Olmstead. Family and friends are invited to a celebration of his life during an open house on Wednesday, December 21, 2016, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, at Stonehenge Club House, 2500 Bluestone Circle, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Private inurnment at Ft. Custer National Cemetery will take place in the spring. Memorial contributions may be given to Wounded Warriors Project, c/o of the funeral home. Family and friends may share a condolence message online at www.joldersma-klein.com. "God loves you and so do I."