Lange, Dennis Dean, 1953-2006

LANGE, CHRISTENSEN, REIMERS, KEMPERS

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/13/2010 at 19:34:07

Dennis Dean Lange, 53, of Orange City died Sunday, December 3, at the Orange City Area Health Center. Funeral service was Wednesday at 2 p.m. at American Reformed Church of Orange City with Rev. Lizbeth Moss officiating. Interment was in West Lawn Cemetery of Orange City.

Lange was born January 18, 1953, to Emil and Elizabeth (Christensen) Lange in Canton, South Dakota. He spent his formative years in Rock Valley and graduated from Rock Valley High School in 1971. He was active in basketball and track during his high school years. He attended Sioux Empire College in Hawarden for two years and finished his college education at Westmar College in Le Mars in 1975. He began employment for the Sioux County Auditor's Office, as Deputy Commissioner of Elections following graduation. In 1984 he was elected to the office of Sioux County Auditor, a position he held until failing health forced his retirement in May 2006. His dedication to that position earned him a place of respect and admiration among his peers and employees.

He married Judy Reimers Kempers in 1986, forming a blended family that included his children Stephanie and Matthew, and her children Heidi, Tami and Travis.

He was a member of American Reformed Church in Orange City where he served as a deacon. He was an avid runner, gardener, loved traveling and enjoyed spending time golfing with his friends. In August of 2003, Denny learned that he had a malignant brain tumor. This was the beginning of a courageous battle against that disease. For over three years the couple met the challenges of each day with faith, determination and courage.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife, Judy; his daughter Stephanie Heekenlaible and her husband Robert of Menno, South Dakota; his son Matthew and his wife Lonea of Rapid City, South Dakota; his stepdaughters, Heidi Anema and special friend Greg Spurlin from Sioux Falls, Tami Westphal and her husband Lonni from Hull, Iowa; his stepson Travis and his wife Amanda of Hospers; six grandchildren; his father and stepmother, Emil Lange and Jo Lange of Rock Valley; three brothers, Larry (Jill) Lange of Inwood, Glenn (Cheryl) Lange of Rock Valley, and Jerry (Bev) Lange of Sioux Falls; sister, Sharon (Daron) Klinkhammer of Howard, South Dakota; his mother-in-law, Harriet Reimers of Boyden; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth Lange; and his father-in-law, William (Vernon) Reimers.

The Lange family prefers memorials to Orange City Home Health and Hospice.

Source: Sioux Center News, Dec. 6, 2006, Sec. 1, p. 7.
The obituary includes a photograph.

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Also in the Dec. 6 Sioux Center News (Sec. 1, p. 3) is an article about his death, repeating much of the information in the obituary and adding the following comments about his character:

Board chairman Mark Sybesma said Lange can be remembered for his dedication to public service. "Denny served the public well. He did a good job as auditor. He was very dedicated to public service and that's how we can remember him," said Sybesma. "He was a man of integrity and I'm sorry to see him taken from us."

The Board of Supervisors accepted Lange's resignation during a special meeting on Monday morning, June 5. Upon his resignation, the board passed a resolution honoring Lange for his work as auditor and expressing appreciation on behalf of the citizens of Sioux County for his service, integrity, honesty and wisdom.

Current auditor Lois Huitink worked for many years with Lange and was appointed to the leadership position upon Lange's resignation.... "It was a joy working with Denny as my boss for 22 years. He was extremely thoughtful," she said.

Huitink said that many times if an elderly woman, for instance, would come into the office around 4:15 some afternoon, Lange would offer her a ride home. "He always visited people who were sick. Everyone in our office greatly admired him. He was a very caring man," she said.

This article also includes a phtograph.