Doris E. Lange

Doris Lange was truly a remarkable woman, so full of life, love and happiness all her days. She was beautiful, she was brilliant, and she was vibrant, a woman who radiated through every room she entered. Doris was a devoted wife, a doting mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend to so many. Yet most of all, she was a gift, a gift to her family, her friends, and her community. Doris' story began on a cold winter day in 1925, on the shores of Muskegon, Michigan. Those were exciting times in this great nation, the heyday of the Roaring 20s, and a time of such prosperity and hope in this country. Women earned the right to vote, and Prohibition was the law of the land. On February 6, 1925, a cold, frosty Friday in Muskegon, Russell Larsen and Hilda Bloomquist celebrated the birth of their first child, a beautiful baby girl they named Doris Elaine. Doris lived most of her youth as an only child, until she was given a baby brother, Russell, when she was 12 years old. The Larsens lived in the Lakeside section of Muskegon, on Miner Avenue, which was nearby many of her relatives, including her grandmother, whom she was so close to. Doris led a very active childhood, and loved to go to the beach in the summer, or ice skating at Mart Dock Rink in the wintertime. Her dad also took his daughter to Lincoln Golf Club, teaching her to play and form a lifelong love for the game. Doris was also very active in her church, the First Congregational Church, and studied hard in school, where she was always a very good student. She attended Bunker School as a child, where she made so many lifelong friends, and was active in their reunion committees throughout her lifetime. She graduated from Muskegon High School, and being such a bright student, then headed off to the University of Michigan for a time. Eventually she transferred to Milwaukee Downer Women's College, now known as Lawrence University. While there she went on a fortuitous blind date with a handsome young dental student from Marquette University, named Emert Lange, in the fall of 1944. The two hit it off, and quickly began a romance. Yet the next year, Emert graduated from dental school, and promptly enlisted in the Navy. He was sent overseas to Japan and China, was but buoyed by the thought of his beloved Doris, who had given him a "glamour" photo of her to hang by his bunk. Doris graduated from Milwaukee Downer and returned to her hometown, where she found a job as a history teacher at Froebel School. When Emert was discharged from the service in 1947, he came to Muskegon to visit his Doris, and decided to start a dental practice there. Emert liked the area, and enjoyed Doris' family very much, and it wasn't long before they were his family, too. Doris and Emert were married on October 25, 1947, beginning a lifelong love affair. Doris continued to teach for a few years, before her attention was called elsewhere. In 1950, the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Linda. Their son Mark followed in 1954, with Paul rounding out the happy family in 1960. The Lange family lived in a beautiful house on Harbor Point Road in Norton Shores, a home they bought in 1955 and lived in ever since, and a place they made so many wonderful memories together. And make no mistake, Doris kept that home running like clockwork. She was the consummate wife and mother, so loving and supportive of her husband and children. Doris was especially active in her kids' lives, serving on the PTA and the Band Parents, and helping them become the fine people they are today. Doris was so very proud of children's achievements; with Linda earning a PhD, and Mark and Paul both following in the father's footsteps to become dentists. Doris was always there for them - whether they knew it or not! As son Mark said, "She always knew what we were up to, but didn't let on that she knew!" And despite her dentist husband's wishes to the contrary, Doris always snuck the kids some sweets when he wasn't looking. The Langes were a close-knit clan, and did much together. They traveled to Wisconsin often to visit Emert's family, took family ski trips (even though Doris stayed in the lodge most of the time), and faithfully attended Our Redeemer Lutheran Church since the 1950s. Linda even attended elementary school at Our Redeemer School. Doris and Emert also did much together, from traveling to the Dental Association Conventions often, to playing golf together at Muskegon Country Club, where she also played in a women's league. Emert was an outdoorsman, while Doris preferred to be indoors, but they always found a common ground. She even went with him to their cabin on the Pere Marquette River. Of course, Doris always found time for her many other activities, hobbies and causes, too. She was an incredibly outgoing and giving woman, and enjoyed being around others. She was a member of the Service League, Friends of the Arts, Graphic Arts Society, University Women's Club, Dental Society Auxiliary, and was an active volunteer in the Muskegon community, as well. She also served on the board of the YWCA, the Visiting Nurses, and the League of Womens Voters, as a true champion of women's rights. Doris was very proud of being on the board of the YWCA when they merged with the YMCA to form the YFCA and built a new facility downtown. Doris also loved to play bridge, and belonged to several clubs over the years. Sadly, she developed Parkinson's disease in her early 70s, and despite battling it valiantly, eventually had to give up bridge when she couldn't hold the cards. It was also difficult when she had to stop driving, and relied on Emert to shuttle her to her activities and social functions. Doris also adored her grandchildren, and loved to spoil them and baby-sit for them often. She supported them just as she did her children, and even attended her grandson's basketball games when she was in a wheelchair. Sadly, Doris died Monday, September 4, 2006. She was a truly remarkable woman, who was loved by all who knew her. Doris was a beautiful, brilliant and vibrant woman, and a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother. Most of all, she was a gift, a gift we will cherish and remember forever. She will be greatly missed. Mrs. Doris E. Lange, age 81, died Monday, September 4, 2006. She was born in Muskegon on February 6, 1925 to Russell & Hilda (Bloomquist) Larsen and married Dr. Emert Lange, DDS on October 25, 1947. SURVIVORS Husband of 58 years, Emert; 2 sons, Dr. Mark (Karla) Lange of Muskegon, Dr. Paul (Dr. Karen Frank) Lange of Waterford, MI; daughter, Linda Lange of CT; 2 grandchildren, Megan, Nicholas; brother, Russell (Nita) Larsen of TX. SERVICE Monday, September 11, 2006, 11:00 AM at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Rev. Toshio Okamoto officiating. Interment at Lakeside Cemetery. VISITATION Sunday, 5-8 PM at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. MEMORIAL: Our Redeemer Church Building Fund or Hackley VNS Hospice. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book. Clock Life Story- Muskegon