Wilson August Carl Lange 1912-1990

KOHRS, LANGE, BROOKS, ROSS, NANKE

Posted By: M. Durr - IAGenWeb Volunteer
Date: 4/19/2010 at 19:42:45

Wilson A. Lange, 77, a longtime Decorah businessman, died Oct. 15, 1990, at the Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital after a lingering illness.

Funeral services were Thursday, Oct. 18 at 11 a.m. at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Decorah. Officiating clergyman is the Rev. Andy Rosulek. Fjelstul Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Burial was at the Postville Cemetery. Pallbearers were L. J. Bodensteiner, Matt Eldenschink, E.D. Farwell, Dean Hagen, Marion Olson and Virgil Stortz. Honorary pallbearers were Ronald Goodyear and Wayne Osmundsen.

Wilson August Carl Lange was born Nov. 5, 1912 in Postville, the son of Bernhardt W. (Ben) Lange and Mathilda (Tillie) Kohrs Lange. They lived on a farm north of Postville.

He was educated in rural schools and graduated from Postville High School in 1930. He learned watchmaking as an apprentice with W. J. Hanks in Postville and by correspondence with the Elgin National Watch Company in Elgin, IL.

He married Bess Elizabeth Brooks Nov. 27, 1935 at Galena, IL. They had 5 children.

He worked as a watchmaker and jeweler in Prairie du Chien, WI and in Decorah. His first business, "Lange's Jewelry" was established in 1941 in Decorah. Later he added sporting equipment and the store became "Lange's Jewelry and Sporting Goods". Many years later he established "The Blue Cue", a family billiards and pool center.

He was employed briefly by Luther College in the recreation area of the student union, and for several years at the University of Northern Iowa where he managed the pool and billiards area of the student union.

He sold his business in 1977 and retired. In recent years he was a coin and token collector. He was an avid sportsman throughout his life. He liked bowling, golfing, trap shooting and pool and playing cards with family and friends. He was a member of the Oneota Golf and Country Club, Elks Lodge and Fellows Lodge, and was a member of the Decorah Coin Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a son. Surviving are his wife, Bess, 4 children, Nancy (Mrs. William) Ross of Dubuque; James A Lange of Bettendorf; Susan (Mrs. Craig) Nanke of Stillwater, OK; and Kevin B. Lange of Waterloo; 6 grandchildren, a brother, Merle Lange of Postville and an aunt, Edna Lange of Jefferson City, MO.

Postville, Iowa newspaper of the time clipping.