James “Jim” C. Lange

James “Jim” C. Lange

James “Jim” Curtis Lange

February 5, 1929 – August 30, 2022

James Curtis Lange (Jim) died peacefully on Tuesday morning, August 30, 2022 at the age of 93. He was born to Raymond and Beatrice Lange on February 5, 1929.  Jim started a lifetime of building amazing projects as a boy when he built and flew a gas powered airplane that he carried on his bicycle out to the fields in the outskirts of Milwaukee.  In high school, he became an accomplished furniture builder creating beautiful tables, chairs, and wall shelving still in use today.  After high school graduation, Jim pursued his love of automobiles by attending the Milwaukee Technical College for auto repair.  He was then drafted into the Army and spent 2 years in the Alaskan Territory during the Korean Conflict.  After his return stateside, Jim partnered up with his dad to run the family business, Lange Beer Service which grew into Lange’s Beer and Liquor.

In his spare time, Jim tackled even more complicated projects which included building a wood boat in his bedroom and rebuilding two classic 1950’s Corvettes.  He met Barbara Ann Woeste on a blind date on Memorial Day weekend in 1953 and they married on September 8, 1956.  Together they built a cottage of his own design on Lake Nokomis just north of Tomahawk, Wisconsin. With the addition of their children Lawrence and LuAnn they enjoyed exploring God’s creations up north on weekends all year round, keeping warm in colder months by the fire in the wood stove he designed.

Jim continued to build in and on his life by renovating a brick ranch that had been a church, into the family home where he also hand-built a garage and a tree fort for his children.  He still tinkered with cars but now for Barb and the kids to drive including a vintage 60’s Fiat, VW Beetle, and a couple of Ford Pintos.

Upon retirement, Jim and Barb embarked on years of travel in their camper trailer enjoying trips to see the National Parks across the U.S. and Canada, and also friends and family especially their niece Liz and Mark Mitchell in Colorado.  The birth of their grandchildren (Katie, Noah, Liz, Megan and Matt) happily meshed with these retirement journeys so Jim became the ever present videographer for holidays and special events producing 17 years of video we still enjoy.   He continued his love of creating projects which included a HO Gauge train layout in his office, rings from silver spoon handles, wood frames, birdhouses and knives with handles of all kinds.

After Barb’s death in 2016, LuAnn kept her dad well-supplied with projects of all sorts when it became harder for him to stand and use the stairs. Jim spent his last 7 months in assisted living, memory care in Waukesha and continued to tinker with small projects including a Lego version of the 1960’s fiat he bought for Barb.   Also, in his last year, his greatest joy was the birth of his Great-Grandson Levi Atlas Lovdahl born to Megan.  Levi’s smile made Great-Grandpa smile like no one else could!

Jim is survived by his son Lawrence (Julie), and daughter LuAnn (David), his grandchildren Katie, Noah (Justina), Liz, Megan (Zack), Matt, and his great-grandchild Levi.

Visitation will take place on Friday, September 16, 2022 at the FUNERAL HOME, 4800 S 84^th St. in Greenfield, from 10:00 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM.

Private family interment to follow at Emanuel Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Shriners Hospital for Children, greatly appreciated.

HERITAGE FUNERAL HOMES

4800 S. 84th St, Greenfield

414-281-5533