LaVern M. Heitkamp, age 75, of Chickasaw, died Friday, September 30, 2016 at Briarwood Village in Coldwater.

He was born December 14, 1940 in Portland, Indiana to the late August & Irma (Zahn) Heitkamp. On January 18, 1964 he married Sharon (Hinton) and she survives in Chickasaw.

He is also survived by a daughter Kristi & Rob Price of Maria Stein and their daughters Kendra & Carmen; a son Eric & Jennifer Heitkamp of New Bremen and their children Jessica, Jonny, Adriana and Isaac; siblings Doris Keiser of North Star, George & Evie Heitkamp of New Bremen, Marie & Steve McClurg of Chickasaw and Ruth & Bill Groff of Troy; and a brother-in-law Don Brown of Greenville.

He is preceded in death by in laws: Louis Keiser, Lois Weitzel-Brown, Bill Weitzel and Shirley Feasby.

He was a member of Precious Blood Church in Chickasaw, the men's sodality of the church, and the Maria Stein American Legion.

LaVern served in the US Army Reserve and was a former part owner of Chickasaw Machine & Tool.

He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, walks and discussing town business at the Qwik Stop in the mornings.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 am Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at the Precious Blood Church, Chickasaw. Burial will follow in Precious Blood Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 8 pm on Tuesday and after 9 to 10 am on Wednesday at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater.

Memorials may be made to Cancer Association of Mercer County.

Condolences can be left at hogenkampfh.com.