Donald Lange

Donald C. Lange, 89, of Lincoln and formerly of Gibbon died Friday, July 23, 2010 at his residence. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at New Life Assembly in Kearney with Rev. Bob Wine officiating. Military rites will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon conducted by the Nebraska National Guard Honors Team in conjunction with the American Legion Post 310 of Gibbon and the VFW Post 759 of Kearney. Visitation will be from 6-8 PM Monday at the O'Brien Straatmann Funeral Home in Kearney and 1 hour prior to service time at the church. Memorials are suggested to the church. Online condolences or personal reflections may be submitted at osafh.com. O'Brien - Straatmann Funeral Home of Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Don was born April 17, 1921 at the family home, located across the road from Fort Kearney, to Fred and Ethel (Sheldon) Lange. He started school at Nebraska District 18 before attending high school at Newark. Don graduated with the class of 1940 from Longfellow High in Kearney, NE. After graduation, Don farmed with his father before being drafted into the Army in September 1942. He served in the Artillery, both in France and Germany, and was present at the Battle of the Bulge. Don was at home on leave and preparing to go to Japan when the atom bomb was dropped ending the war. He was discharged in California on December 16, 1945 and took up where he left off, farming with his dad. Three years later on July 18, 1948, Don married the love of his life, Lucille Wempen in Sumner, NE. The couple settled into the farming life until 1959 when he was hired as a sub carrier and mail clerk at the Gibbon Post Office. When Don began serving as active Post Master September 24, 1964, the family moved to a home in Gibbon. They resided there for the next 44 years. Don was sworn in as Post Master in May of 1966 and served in that capacity until his retirement on April 17, 1981. After retirement Don worked part-time at the Gibbon lumber yard. Don and Lucille soon began traveling down South. On one of their first trips they spent 3 weeks, in Mobile, Alabama, binding Bibles bound for Russia. After leaving Mobile they headed for San Juan, Texas where they spent the rest of the winter and the next 11 winters. In November 2008 they moved into a retirement Town House at Legacy Terrace in Lincoln,NE. Donald is survived by his wife, Lucille, of Lincoln, son, John and wife, Tammy of Lincoln, daughter, Bonnie Johnson and husband, Craig of Holdrege, 5 grand children, 11 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren, sister-in-laws, Eleanor Lange of Kearney, Verla Lange of Gibbon, brother-in-law, Ken Davis of Cheyenne, WY, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandson, Todd, his parents, 2 brothers, Dale and Wayne, two sisters, Velma Duncan and Treva Davis, and brother-in-law Edward Duncan.

Donald Lange

April 17, 1921 - July 23, 2010