Monday, November 11, 2013

Missing a Friend...

This year when we began gathering the walk/run committee to start planning for this years event, a face was missing. A very important face...Joseph Lange. His wife Linda was and she had the sad task of informing us that Joe was not feeling so good and probably would not be working on the walk/run this year. We all said our prayers for Joe and hoped for the best. 

He was hard shoes to fill with everything he did for that event. He would show up around 6am in the morning with a large truck filled with tables and chair, signage, hammers and I am pretty sure duct tape. (It fixes everything you know!) He made sure everything was set up, signs were hung up, including on the tower in Rockford park, so that the next wave of volunteers coming in could set up their stations. Without him, we couldn't get started. Years before he did a lot of hands on work with the money and registration. Linda, his wife, would pick up much of the food and bring it in and help set that up. The Langes have just been such an important part of that event.  Until the unthinkable.

On November 3rd we lost Joseph to his illness. It was a bit of a shock, and it will take some time for our group to recover from such a loss. I often wonder how people can think that volunteers are not that valuable, or so easily replaceable. They obviously have never worked at LCS. Or worked with volunteers at all or anywhere who has them for that matter. It is at such times as these that we sit and reflect on how blessed we are and have been as an organization to have such wonderful volunteers such as Joseph and Linda Lange. So thank you, thank you so much for all both of you gave to us for so many years!

Below is Joseph's obituary and I followed it up with Greater Power, November's monthly prayer we will be handing out.


Joseph B. Lange

AGE: 68 • Wilmington

Joseph B. Lange, age 68, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on November 3, 2013 at home surrounded by his family.

Joe was born and raised in Wilmington, to the late Joseph and Winona Lange. He was a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. Joe served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Seabees and was a certified diver with MCB-7. He owned and operated Lange Construction, Inc. for 31 years. Joe was a Scout Leader for Troop 62. He was a Master Mason and belonged to Brandywine Lodge, #33 A.F. & A.M., where he served as president of the Hall Company. Joe was an active member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. He volunteered at Sojourner's Place and Lutheran Community Service in Wilmington. Joe enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He also loved to travel, enjoyed hunting, woodworking and doing projects with his sons.

Joe is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda L. Lange, his children, Michael Lange (Pamela) Stephen Lange (Jennifer) Sharon Gaskill (Jason), his sister Jeannette August (Ronald), his grandchildren, Ashley MacLeish, Skyler Elizabeth Lange and Jaxon Gaskill.


Greater Power 

Every month we have a pastor/reverend from a different church write us a new and inspirational prayer to offer the recipients of our food services.  We place a copy of this prayer into each of the grocery bags we hand out. We feel that most who come to us are having a pretty rough time and could use some comforting words to help them through...every little bit helps. 

Here is November's...

Merciful Jesus,

For your death on the cross which forgives my sins, for your resurrection into a glorified body which promises I too will be made perfect on the Day of the Lord, and for your promise that you will make all things new on that day, I THANK YOU! In the meantime, keep me faithful amidst the trials and struggles of life, and help me to be thankful for the love of other people. 
Amen.

Pastor David Kummer
Concordia Evangelical Lutheran Church
11/13

Joseph B. Lange

AGE: 68 • Wilmington

Age 68, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on November 3, 2013 at home surrounded by his family.

Joe was born and raised in Wilmington, to the late Joseph and Winona Lange. He was a graduate of Mt. Pleasant High School. Joe served two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Seabees and was a certified diver with MCB-7. He owned and operated Lange Construction, Inc. for 31 years. Joe was a Scout Leader for Troop 62. He was a Master Mason and belonged to Brandywine Lodge, #33 A.F. & A.M., where he served as president of the Hall Company. Joe was an active member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church. He volunteered at Sojourner's Place and Lutheran Community Service in Wilmington. Joe enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He also loved to travel, enjoyed hunting, woodworking and doing projects with his sons.
Joe is survived by his wife of 45 years, Linda L. Lange, his children, Michael Lange (Pamela) Stephen Lange (Jennifer) Sharon Gaskill (Jason), his sister Jeannette August (Ronald), his grandchildren, Ashley MacLeish, Skyler Elizabeth Lange and Jaxon Gaskill.

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