Lauren King Sackrider

Lauren King Sackrider, age 87, of Battle Creek, Ml passed away on Monday morning, July 11, 2016 at the Flower House Care Home in Nashville, Michigan. Lauren was born to Ard and Bernice Sackrider in St. Petersburg, Florida on November 5, 1928. He graduated from Battle Creek Central High School, and went on to earn a degree in Agriculture from Michigan State University. At MSU he was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. His interest in education continued and in 1959 he completed a Real Estate Business course from the University of Michigan Extension Service, foreshadowing future business endeavors.

In 1953, Lauren married his wife of 52 years, Marilyn Ruth Arnold, also of Battle Creek. Drafted in 1954, Lauren served two years in the United States Army as a Private at Fort Smith, Arkansas. Returning to Battle Creek, Lauren joined Sackrider and Sons, farming with his father, Ard, and brother, Robert. In 1965, Interstate Highway I-94 split and created a Clover Leaf on the Sackrider farm. Ever willing to take on a new challenge, in 1965, Lauren became a Restaurateur, managing the Countryside Inn, built by Sackrider and Sons between Battle Creek and Marshall on East Michigan Ave. and I-94. For twenty-eight years, The Countryside Inn was one of Battle Creek's popular family eateries and banquet locations, with Lauren there to greet and seat you most days.

As an area businessman, Lauren was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce and Rotary. Through the years he also sat on many community boards, Community Mental Health being one of them. After closing the Countryside Inn, in 1993, and with a spirit never to retire, Lauren created Sackrider Properties, becoming a full time Real Estate Developer, purchasing, renovating, building, and managing a number of Office Buildings in Battle Creek, until 2013.

Lauren and Marilyn were life-long members of the First Congregational Church of Battle Creek. As members of the Battle Creek Ski Club they and their family enjoyed Michigan's slopes and traveled to more distant locations. During the warm season, Lauren and Marilyn took special pleasure in short trips to the Lake Michigan shoreline, staying in their well loved cottage, and after their son, David, moved to France they traveled nineteen times to Paris until Marilyn's death in 2006

Lauren is survived by his daughter, Linda (Robb) Ferguson of Au Train, MI; his son, David (Francoise) Sackrider of Paris, France; his son, Blair Sackrider, newly of Munising, Ml; his brother, Robert (Marilyn G.) Sackrider of Battle Creek, Ml; his sister, Nancy (Tom) Owen of Kalamazoo, MI; his grandson, Duncan Ferguson, of Nashville, TN; his two granddaughters, Sophia and Anna Sackrider of Paris, France; and many nieces and nephews and their children.

Always an optimistic and energetic spirit. Lauren's greeting "Good Day" and his title "The Great" for all who were close to him will be sadly missed. Lauren the Great!

The family will receive friends 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Friday, July 15, 2016 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care where funeral services to celebrate Lauren's life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to First Congregational Church of Battle Creek or the American Cancer Society. Thank you for keeping Mr. Sackrider's family in your thoughts and prayers. Personal messages for the family and/or favorite memories of Lauren may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.