Pauline Lange

Pauline Lange, age 97, of Bluffton, died on Tuesday, October 8, 2013, at the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 11, 2013, at the Burr Oak United Methodist Church, 3597 – 237th Avenue, Burr Oak, Iowa, with Pastor Linda Thompson presiding., Friends may call after 11:00 am the day of the service at the church. The Schluter – Balik Funeral Home in Decorah is in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in the Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Iowa. Pauline Lucille Manning was born in Bluffton, Iowa on March 26, 1916. At the age of eight, after her mother’s death, she went to live with her grandparents, Ben and Alice Wicks. She stayed with them through graduation from Burr Oak High School. After attending nursing school in La Crosse, Wisconsin, she married her former high school classmate, William Lange on December 5, 1936, in Lansing Iowa. William and Pauline began farming at that time and remained on the Lange farmstead while William farmed and taught in rural schools. They moved to Marquette, IA, in 1954 in order for William to pursue a fulltime teaching career. The family moved to Elkader, IA, in 1960 where William continued to teach until retiring in 1978. They moved from Elkader to the farm at that time where Pauline remained until a few weeks ago. While being a farm wife with small children offered precious little time for other pursuits, Pauline taught herself to become proficient in a variety of things that interested her; sewing, needlework, accordion, caning and refinishing furniture, rug making and typing were among them. She also enjoyed gardening and watching hummingbirds. Among Pauline’s favorite times were the family fishing trips to Minnesota and the annual gathering of deer hunters at her house in December of each year. Pauline’s survivors include sons: Davis (Susan) of Decorah and Lowell (Shirley) of Hampton, Iowa. Three daughters: Ardell (Curtis) Stoops of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Jane Lange of Decorah, IA, and Sally Lange (Jackie Knospe) of rural Decorah. One sister: Mary Martinson, of Freeport, IA. Pauline is also survived by her nine grandchildren, twenty-three great grandchildren, seven great great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Pauline was preceded in death by husband: William in 2000. Also brother: Reg Manning, sister: Audrey Greenslade, and grandson: Christopher Stoops.