Virginia Marie Lips

VIRGINIA MARIE LIPS age 83 of Sturgis, Michigan passed away early Monday morning September 7, 2009 at her home. She was born June 29, 1926 in Kalamazoo, Michigan a daughter to the late Carl William and Mary (Macy) Hanichen. Virginia had resided in Sturgis since 1952 coming from Chicago, Illinois where she attended and graduated from the Illinois Masonic Hospital School of Nursing receiving her license as a Registered Nurse. Her early life was spent in Vicksburg where she graduated from Vicksburg High School with the class of 1944. On July 16, 1949 she married Conrad G. "Connie" Lips in Vicksburg. He died February 28, 2007. In 1955 she was hired as a Registered Nurse at the Sturgis Memorial Hospital and retired in 1983. The last 20 years of her career she held the position of Operating Room Supervisor. With her husband she owned Litho Printers in Sturgis from 1963-1995. Virginia enjoyed sewing, cooking, traveling and for many years spending the winters at she and Connie's home in Winter Haven Florida. Virginia truly loved time spent with her family especially her grandchildren. She is survived her daughter Caryl Susan (Wes Garner) Fittro of Sturgis, Six Grandchildren; Maria (Lt. Colonel Brent) Lawniczak of Millbrook, Alabama, Christian (Becky) Fittro of Middlebury, Indiana, Joshua Fittro of Sturgis, Samuel (Holly) Fittro of Sturgis, Meghan (Will) Dobberteen of Sturgis and Hannah (Matt) Lehman of Sturgis, Nine Great Grandchildren; Justin, Chelsea, Ryan and Emily Lawniczak, Blake and Taylor Fittro, Noah Lehman and Ethan and Blake Furr, One Brother; Bill (Ellen) Hanichen of Vicksburg, Sister-in-law; Marlea Hanichen of Vicksburg and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and one brother; James Hanichen. The family will receive friends from 5:00-8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-2331. Funeral services celebrating the life of Virginia Lips will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis. The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Lip's memory consider the Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan, 5455 Corporate Drive, Suite 306, Troy, MI 48098. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.