Rev. James Alvin Lange

April 5, 1929 - June 30, 2021

Rev. James Alvin Lange, born on April 5, 1929 in McClusky, ND. Died June 30, 2021 in Weldon Spring, MO. Rev. Lange was 92 years old living at LSS Breeze Park.

Rev. Lange grew up in Concordia MO with 6 brothers and 1 sister (Bill, Bob, Don, Joan, John, Harold and Al.) His father died at an early age of 36, leaving his mother, Selma to raise 8 children on her own. He attended St. Paul’s Lutheran High School and Junior College in the same town. From there, he went to Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO and served in Hawaii during his vicarage. After time studying for the pastoral ministry, Rev. Lange thought it best to go into teaching. He decided to enrolled at Concordia Teacher’s College in River Forest, IL. His first teaching assignment was at St. John’s Lutheran Church and School in Glendale, Queens, NY.

Between his studies, he travelled home to Concordia where he met Grace Grossheim who taught at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Concordia, MO. After a year of teaching as a bachelor in NY, he married Grace in 1956. Rev. and Mrs. Lange spent an additional five years at St. Johns Glendale, NY and in that time, their first child, Rebecca was adopted.

Rev. Lange spent 25 years in the teaching ministry including Emmanuel Catonsville, MD, Concordia, Conover NC and Calvary, Baltimore, MD. Within that time, they adopted a second time, bringing home son Martin in 1964.

In 1980, (a Mr. Lange at that time) returned to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis to complete his studies for the pastoral ministry and completed those classes in 1982. He was ordained and installed as an assistant pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Glen Burnie, MD where he served for eleven and a half years.

Retirement took the Langes to Lewes DE where they worshiped at Our Savior Lutheran in Rehoboth Beach, DE. and in 1999, they continued retirement in the St. Louis area where they could be closer to family.

Rev. Lange is survived by his wife, Grace, daughter, Rebecca, Son-in-Law, Mark, Daughter-in-Law, Mary, Brother, Alvin and sister, Joan, several cousins, nieces and nephews. To God be the Glory.

Services Held
Zion Lutheran Church
3866 Old Hwy 94 S
St. Charles, MO

Visitation:  Tuesday, July 6  4-8PM

Funeral:  Wednesday, July 7  10AM (With visitation preceding at 9AM)

Interment Concordia Cemetery. Memorial contributions to The St. Paul Lutheran High School, Concordia, MO, appreciated.