Parents of Lester were Henry Lange 29 Jan 1900-4 Jan 1945 and Hazel May Steele 26 Nov 1906 - 16 Nov 1936
Married Geraldine Margaret Archer 29 January 1956
OBITUARY:
Lester Leroy "Doc" Lange, 74,passed on in the company of his family at Marian Medical Center, Santa Maria, California, on Feb 3, 2001. A viewing will be held at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary on Feb 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary service at 6 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Feb 7 at St Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria . Burial will follow at the Santa Maria Cemetery. The family will hold a reception following the burial at 421 N Las Flores Drive, Nipomo.
Born on May 25, 1926, in Pierre, S.D., to Henry Lange and Hazel May (nee Steele) Lester grew up in Waterloo, Dupo and St Louis, Illinois. through the depression years. A natural inventor, he fashioned a bike and a scooter out of found scraps as a child. His mother passed on when he was 10 years old, and he and his sisters then lived with their grandparents, Frederick Lange and Christine (nee Senf). Lester enlisted in the US Army in 1944. His departure for the South Pacific was delayed by a bout of measles. Two weeks later, while in route, the Army captured Okinawa. He was stationed on the island where he served as a guard for prisoners of war. His kind treatment of the prisoners is probably remembered today by those who were in his charge. Mr Lange learned from them the Japanese sport of ear wrestling; he was the only US soldier known to have won. Lester and his comrades built a single seat car out of a jeep, plane and bomb dolly scraps. They named it the Okinawa Hawk.
After the service, Mr Lange worked as a farm equipment and autombile mechanic in Illinois in 1955,he met Geraldine Archer, joined the Catholic Church, and they married in 1956. Mr and Mrs Lange came to Santa Maria in 1959 and raised four children. Lester was a highly skilled body and frame man, working at auto shops in Santa Maria and retiring from City Motors in 1989. He was widely respected for his artistry and inventiveness as well as his yarn spinning. In retirement Mr. Lange enjoyed working on his truck, wood crafts, and cooking. He took great pride and enjoyment in his children and grandchildren.
Lester is survived by his wife of 45 years, Geraldine; daughter Margaret Lange (Gary Fourer) sons Anthony "Hank" (Rebecca) and Michael (Kim) Lange; son in law, Dakota Bredeson (Mary) granddaughters, Jessica Everette (Ronnie) Melody and Megan Klein, and Hannah Lange, grandsons Zachary Bredeson, and Alec and Chase Lange; great granddaughter, Rachel Everette; his sisters, Elsie Johnson and Dorothy Wright of Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Mary B Lane in 1998.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary of Santa Maria.
Married Geraldine Margaret Archer 29 January 1956
OBITUARY:
Lester Leroy "Doc" Lange, 74,passed on in the company of his family at Marian Medical Center, Santa Maria, California, on Feb 3, 2001. A viewing will be held at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary on Feb 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary service at 6 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Feb 7 at St Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria . Burial will follow at the Santa Maria Cemetery. The family will hold a reception following the burial at 421 N Las Flores Drive, Nipomo.
Born on May 25, 1926, in Pierre, S.D., to Henry Lange and Hazel May (nee Steele) Lester grew up in Waterloo, Dupo and St Louis, Illinois. through the depression years. A natural inventor, he fashioned a bike and a scooter out of found scraps as a child. His mother passed on when he was 10 years old, and he and his sisters then lived with their grandparents, Frederick Lange and Christine (nee Senf). Lester enlisted in the US Army in 1944. His departure for the South Pacific was delayed by a bout of measles. Two weeks later, while in route, the Army captured Okinawa. He was stationed on the island where he served as a guard for prisoners of war. His kind treatment of the prisoners is probably remembered today by those who were in his charge. Mr Lange learned from them the Japanese sport of ear wrestling; he was the only US soldier known to have won. Lester and his comrades built a single seat car out of a jeep, plane and bomb dolly scraps. They named it the Okinawa Hawk.
After the service, Mr Lange worked as a farm equipment and autombile mechanic in Illinois in 1955,he met Geraldine Archer, joined the Catholic Church, and they married in 1956. Mr and Mrs Lange came to Santa Maria in 1959 and raised four children. Lester was a highly skilled body and frame man, working at auto shops in Santa Maria and retiring from City Motors in 1989. He was widely respected for his artistry and inventiveness as well as his yarn spinning. In retirement Mr. Lange enjoyed working on his truck, wood crafts, and cooking. He took great pride and enjoyment in his children and grandchildren.
Lester is survived by his wife of 45 years, Geraldine; daughter Margaret Lange (Gary Fourer) sons Anthony "Hank" (Rebecca) and Michael (Kim) Lange; son in law, Dakota Bredeson (Mary) granddaughters, Jessica Everette (Ronnie) Melody and Megan Klein, and Hannah Lange, grandsons Zachary Bredeson, and Alec and Chase Lange; great granddaughter, Rachel Everette; his sisters, Elsie Johnson and Dorothy Wright of Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Mary B Lane in 1998.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary of Santa Maria.
Parents of Lester were Henry Lange 29 Jan 1900-4 Jan 1945 and Hazel May Steele 26 Nov 1906 - 16 Nov 1936
Married Geraldine Margaret Archer 29 January 1956
OBITUARY:
Lester Leroy "Doc" Lange, 74,passed on in the company of his family at Marian Medical Center, Santa Maria, California, on Feb 3, 2001. A viewing will be held at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary on Feb 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary service at 6 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Feb 7 at St Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria . Burial will follow at the Santa Maria Cemetery. The family will hold a reception following the burial at 421 N Las Flores Drive, Nipomo.
Born on May 25, 1926, in Pierre, S.D., to Henry Lange and Hazel May (nee Steele) Lester grew up in Waterloo, Dupo and St Louis, Illinois. through the depression years. A natural inventor, he fashioned a bike and a scooter out of found scraps as a child. His mother passed on when he was 10 years old, and he and his sisters then lived with their grandparents, Frederick Lange and Christine (nee Senf). Lester enlisted in the US Army in 1944. His departure for the South Pacific was delayed by a bout of measles. Two weeks later, while in route, the Army captured Okinawa. He was stationed on the island where he served as a guard for prisoners of war. His kind treatment of the prisoners is probably remembered today by those who were in his charge. Mr Lange learned from them the Japanese sport of ear wrestling; he was the only US soldier known to have won. Lester and his comrades built a single seat car out of a jeep, plane and bomb dolly scraps. They named it the Okinawa Hawk.
After the service, Mr Lange worked as a farm equipment and autombile mechanic in Illinois in 1955,he met Geraldine Archer, joined the Catholic Church, and they married in 1956. Mr and Mrs Lange came to Santa Maria in 1959 and raised four children. Lester was a highly skilled body and frame man, working at auto shops in Santa Maria and retiring from City Motors in 1989. He was widely respected for his artistry and inventiveness as well as his yarn spinning. In retirement Mr. Lange enjoyed working on his truck, wood crafts, and cooking. He took great pride and enjoyment in his children and grandchildren.
Lester is survived by his wife of 45 years, Geraldine; daughter Margaret Lange (Gary Fourer) sons Anthony "Hank" (Rebecca) and Michael (Kim) Lange; son in law, Dakota Bredeson (Mary) granddaughters, Jessica Everette (Ronnie) Melody and Megan Klein, and Hannah Lange, grandsons Zachary Bredeson, and Alec and Chase Lange; great granddaughter, Rachel Everette; his sisters, Elsie Johnson and Dorothy Wright of Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Mary B Lane in 1998.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary of Santa Maria.
Married Geraldine Margaret Archer 29 January 1956
OBITUARY:
Lester Leroy "Doc" Lange, 74,passed on in the company of his family at Marian Medical Center, Santa Maria, California, on Feb 3, 2001. A viewing will be held at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary on Feb 6 from 4 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary service at 6 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Feb 7 at St Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria . Burial will follow at the Santa Maria Cemetery. The family will hold a reception following the burial at 421 N Las Flores Drive, Nipomo.
Born on May 25, 1926, in Pierre, S.D., to Henry Lange and Hazel May (nee Steele) Lester grew up in Waterloo, Dupo and St Louis, Illinois. through the depression years. A natural inventor, he fashioned a bike and a scooter out of found scraps as a child. His mother passed on when he was 10 years old, and he and his sisters then lived with their grandparents, Frederick Lange and Christine (nee Senf). Lester enlisted in the US Army in 1944. His departure for the South Pacific was delayed by a bout of measles. Two weeks later, while in route, the Army captured Okinawa. He was stationed on the island where he served as a guard for prisoners of war. His kind treatment of the prisoners is probably remembered today by those who were in his charge. Mr Lange learned from them the Japanese sport of ear wrestling; he was the only US soldier known to have won. Lester and his comrades built a single seat car out of a jeep, plane and bomb dolly scraps. They named it the Okinawa Hawk.
After the service, Mr Lange worked as a farm equipment and autombile mechanic in Illinois in 1955,he met Geraldine Archer, joined the Catholic Church, and they married in 1956. Mr and Mrs Lange came to Santa Maria in 1959 and raised four children. Lester was a highly skilled body and frame man, working at auto shops in Santa Maria and retiring from City Motors in 1989. He was widely respected for his artistry and inventiveness as well as his yarn spinning. In retirement Mr. Lange enjoyed working on his truck, wood crafts, and cooking. He took great pride and enjoyment in his children and grandchildren.
Lester is survived by his wife of 45 years, Geraldine; daughter Margaret Lange (Gary Fourer) sons Anthony "Hank" (Rebecca) and Michael (Kim) Lange; son in law, Dakota Bredeson (Mary) granddaughters, Jessica Everette (Ronnie) Melody and Megan Klein, and Hannah Lange, grandsons Zachary Bredeson, and Alec and Chase Lange; great granddaughter, Rachel Everette; his sisters, Elsie Johnson and Dorothy Wright of Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Mary B Lane in 1998.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary of Santa Maria.
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