Richard “Rick” LaVern Lange
Richard “Rick” LaVern Lange, 76, of Platteville, WI, formerly Boscobel, WI, passed away from a heart attack Sunday afternoon June 18, 2017 in his home.
Funeral services will be 12:00 p.m. (Noon) on Thursday, June 22, 2017 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville where military rites will be accorded by Gilbertson-Pitzer-Radley VFW Post #10393 and Blake Semrad American Legion Post #134. Rev. Connie Matye will officiate. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service on Thursday. Memorials may be made to the Richard “Rick” Lange Memorial Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.
Rick was born August 24, 1940 in Platteville WI to LaVern and Anna Mae (Richter) Lange. He attended school in Platteville until he joined the United States Air Force in 1958. He was stationed at many bases throughout the world; however, it was at the Grand Forks Air Force Base that he met his wife of 53 years, Emily Carol (Taylor) Lange. They were united in marriage on April 4, 1964 and welcomed their only child Angela Mae (Lange) Edgington into the world on July 4, 1965.
Rick was a well-respected Tech Sargent, earning many metals in Vietnam and was very proud of his service to his country and the time he served. He had many adventures in his military career and always liked to tell everybody about exactly what a “Boom Operator” did and loved to brag about how he had “flown around the world seven times.” He was lastly stationed at Grissom Air Force base in Walton Indiana where he was part of a team that set up the local emergency response system. Rick retired from the USAF in June of 1978 but continued to work on base as a civilian for another ten years before moving back to his home town in 1989. Rick worked many jobs here in Wisconsin (sometimes several at a time) but most recently driving roll off trucks for Town & Country Sanitation of Boscobel for almost twenty years before he finally decided to retire.
Rick enjoyed many things in life but was most passionate about the local CB club in Indiana, camping, boating, bowling, hunting, wood work, playing marbles, spending time with friends and family, and of course Ricks second love….Golf! Rick will forever be remembered for his great ability to tell a good story, his incredible passion and pride in his military service, and his willingness to always lend anyone and everyone a helping hand.
Rick is survived by his wife Emily Lange of Platteville, WI, their only child Angela (Norman) Edgington of Boscobel, WI, three grandchildren Amber (Scott Richardson) Hines of Platteville, WI, Erika (Mike Feldmann) Edgington of Boscobel, WI, and Addison Edgington of Boscobel, WI. Four brothers Bob (Charolette) Lange of Rockville, WI, Roger (Sandy) Lange of Boscobel, WI, Terry Lange of Lancaster, WI, and Tim Lange of Banfield, WI as well as his step siblings Clarence, Ray, and Tommy Iverson, and many nieces and nephews. He is proceeded in death by his parents LaVern and Anna Mae Lange, a step-mother Marcella Lange, his mother and father in-law Arthur and Agnes Taylor, his sister Patricia (Pat) Bloom, brother Allen Lange, and a step brother Jack Iverson.
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