PAUL R. LANGE

Paul R. Lange, 88 a long time resident and businessman of Devils Lake, ND died on Monday, November 15, 2010 at Heartland Care Center, Devils Lake in the loving care of his family and Mercy Hospice. Funeral Services for Paul will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. Rev. Jeff Nicola, Pastor of St. Olaf Lutheran Church will officiate and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Serving as Casket Bearers for Paul will be his grandchildren Joshua, Jeffrey, Dana, Jay, Amber, Amanda, Macy and Zachary. Music will be provided by Russell and Lynda Pearson. Paul Richard Lange was born to Axel V. and Julia C. (Simonson) Lange at home in Hudson, Iowa, on July 13, 1922. Paul graduated from Hudson High School as salutatorian and class president. Paul attended Hawkeye Boys’ State in 1939. He lost his father that fall and went to barber college in Sioux City, Iowa directly after graduation. Paul and his mother operated the barber shop and clothing store left by his father until his enlistment in the Marine Corps in October, 1942. As a radio operator with the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion, he made three first waves (Roi & Namur, Guam and Okinawa). After his honorable discharge in November 1945, he enrolled under the GI Bill at the State University of Iowa in January, 1946. Paul and Lois Wick met on a blind date in 1946, became engaged in 1947 and were married on August 14, 1948 by Rev. E.L. Rude in St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Devils Lake. They then made their home in Iowa City, Iowa. After Paul’s graduation in February, 1949, he joined Burroughs Corporation and worked in sales in Fargo, Jamestown and Grand Forks, North Dakota. Lois did secretarial work for the County Superintendent of Schools in Iowa City, at NDSU, Jamestown College and Five Star Manufacturing Company. In the fall of 1952, they both joined KDLR and bought the only house available on the GI mortgage. The year 1954 saw the adoption through Lutheran Welfare of Karl Erik. Julia Ann and Jane Marie followed in 1957 and Robert Paul in 1963. Paul and Lois made Devils Lake their home for the rest of their lives. In 1986, they began spending their winter months in Florida where they enjoyed golf and fishing. Paul was active in Jaycees (National Director); Governor’s Committee on Employment of the Handicapped (4 years Chairman, 25 total years); American Legion (State Commander 1965 and National Public Relation Commission for 9 years); 40/8 Chef De Gare; Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; State Chairman Muscular Dystrophy (11 years); President North Dakota Broadcasters; Director National Radio Broadcasters Association; Director of Communities for a Modern US 2; Director Devils Lake Municipal Airport Authority; First President Lake Region Coin Club; Charter member Chamber Ambassadors; Mason; Shriner; Flag Corps; Boy Scouts; Red Cross; Life member American Legion, VFW; member Eagles, Elks, Country Club and Yacht Club; received Jaycees State Distinguished Service Award in 1955; Boss of the Year, 1976. When the Webster State Bank (a founder and director had been Lois’ grandfather, Rasmus Sorenson) was moved to Devils Lake in 1968 and became Western State Bank, Paul became a director of the bank and the associated Western State Agency. In February, 1982, Paul was endorsed by the District 15 Republicans as a candidate for State Senator. Paul and Lois were both pilots with Paul receiving his license in 1965. Paul sang in St. Olaf’s choir, enjoyed golf (Paul had a hole-in-one in 1965), loved to hunt and fish (Paul and Lois were partners in the Devils Lake Annual Fishing Tourney) and never missed a reunion of the 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion. In 1968 Paul bought control of KDLR Inc., and in 1979 Paul and Lois moved into a new home on Creel Bay. Due to the rising water of Devils Lake they lost their home in 2009. Paul loved people and visiting with friends and strangers. But no one was ever a stranger for long. Paul is survived by his wife of 62 years, Lois; daughters, Julia (Ken) Volk of Great Falls, MT, Jane Rurup of Grand Forks, ND; son Robert (Voni) Lange of Devils Lake, ND; grandchildren, Joshua and Jeffrey Volk, Dana and Jay Rurup, Amber Lange, Amanda (Ashley) Matheny, Macy Lange and Zachary Lange; great grandchildren Kaii; Caleb, Cadence, Brynn, Harley, Harlow; Oden; several nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Paul is also survived and preceded by his many Marine Corp brothers. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Karl E. Lange; brother Vernon Lange; sister, Agnes Evans; father-in-law and mother-in-law Bert and Hildur Wick;