Martin Lange

Martin “Marty” W. Lange, 87, of Peoria, passed away peacefully in his sleep at 5:34 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2017, at Manor Court in Peoria.
Born May 9, 1930 in Makoti, North Dakota, Marty was a devoted lifelong Cubs fan, but nothing could match the devotion to his wife, Mary (nee Durre). After meeting as teenagers in Flanagan, Illinois, the two were happily married for nearly 67 years (January 20, 1951). She survives.
Marty is survived by his three daughters, Sue Anderson of Peoria; Joan Lange of Austin, Texas; and Beth (Trevor) Freeze of Charlotte, N.C.; his son Thomas Lange of Austin, Texas; four grandchildren, Christopher Anderson (Jeannie Krakow); Michael Anderson (Heather); Isaac Freeze; William Freeze; and three greatgrandchildren, Kelci, Mason, and Sophie Anderson.  He is also survived by sisters Marita Rawski of Gainesville, Virginia; Katherine (Terry) Ferguson of Clinton, Illinois; brother-in-law Myron Durre of Quincy, Illinois and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Frederick and Irene (nee Kamp) Lange and stepmother Lucille (nee Stemm); his sister Elizabeth (Walter) Brock; and his brother Donald (Janet) Lange.
Marty worked for Illinois Bell/AT&T for 30-plus years. He was technologically savvy and could fix just about anything.  He served more than 5 years in the Navy during the Korean War. He was honored in Washington D.C. on the Greater Peoria Honor Flight in September of 2015.
A longtime member of Grace Presbyterian Church, Marty served as a cameraman, Sunday School teacher, and maintenance specialist.
Marty became a Cubs fan as a child, listening to games on WGN radio and riding the train to Wrigley Field with his younger brother, watching from the bleachers for $.25.
After enduring endless promises of “there’s always next year,” Marty finally witnessed a Cubs’ World Series Championship in November of 2016 with his family.
Memorial contributions may be made in Marty’s memory to Grace Presbyterian Church Mission Fund or the Greater Peoria Honor Flight.
A visitation will be held on Monday, December 11, from 4-6 p.m. at Clary Funeral Home in Peoria. A funeral service will be at Grace Presbyterian at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 12 (visitation begins at 10 a.m.). Burial will take place in Flanagan at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, December 12.

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