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Sharon James “Bookie” Buchner, age 94, of Mendon, died Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017 at the Birch Adult Care Home in Leonidas. He was born in Mendon on Jan. 9, 1923 the son of Leon J. and Frances (Bloom) Buchner and was a lifetime resident of Mendon. He graduated from Mendon High School in 1943 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was married to Mildred J. Timm on March 21, 1959 in Centreville. Sharon worked at Ross Labs in Sturgis for 27 years, and was a 50 year member of the Mendon Volunteer Fire Department. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars with the former Post #4898, and was one of the flag raisers at all home football games at Mendon High School. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, assisting his brother in law, Hal Steinbarger with agricultural spraying and working on cars with his buddy, Lloyd Hart.
Sharon is survived by three daughters, Jane (Robert) Kasper of Dowagiac, Kitty Buchner and Judy (Pete) Van Camp both of Mendon; five grandchildren, Billy and Chad McGowan, Spencer Schrader, Kevin Ottinger, and Riley Buchner; four great-grandchildren; two sisters, Kathryn Steinbarger of Leonidas and Pearl Collins of Three Rivers; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Millie; and two brothers in law, Hal Steinbarger and Dave Collins.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 pm Sunday at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon. Funeral services will be at 11 am on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017 at the funeral home with Rev. David Grimm, Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church officiating, and Last Call by the Mendon Fire Department. Military interment will be in Mendon Cemetery. It is suggested that memorials be directed to the Mendon Fire Department. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com
