Arlene Katharine Lange

Arlene Lange, age 84, of Marshalltown, Iowa passed away on Tuesday July 21, 2026, at her home in Marshalltown

Memorial services for Arlene will take place on Saturday, August 8 at 11:00 A.M. at First Presbyterian Church in Marshalltown. A visitation will be held one-hour prior beginning at 10:00 A.M. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation. Mitchell Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Arlene and her family. To leave online condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. or call Ph. 641-844-1234.

Arlene Katharine Howard Lange was born August 12, 1941, in Odebolt, Iowa. She was the only daughter of Harry and Pearl Hoefling Howard. She grew up on her parent's family farm north of Odebolt surrounded by many of her maternal extended family members. Arlene had a wonderful childhood growing up with her brother, Jim and she attended Odebolt-Arthur community school and graduated in 1959. Throughout her schooling she was active in many activities including 4-H, Band, chorus, student leadership activities and church activities. Music was a part of the Howard household, and most evenings were spent with jam sessions and the joy of her dad's fiddle.

After graduation, she attended Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Des Moines and began a lifelong career as a Registered Nurse. The three years she spent at Iowa Methodist were some of the most enjoyable years of years of her life. Her education didn't stop when she graduated in 1962. Working full time as a wife and mother of two teenage sons, she returned to college and graduated with honors from University of St. Francis in Joliett, Illinois in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Arts. She next received American Nurses Association Certification in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. Always striving to grow in Nursing, she was initiated into Sigma Theta Tau, National Honorary Nursing society, Gamma Chapter through the University of Iowa. She always she loved being a nurse and knew that is what God always planned for her. She was employed at Blank Children's Hospital and Ft. Dodge Trinity Regional Hospital. She retired from Iowa Veteran's Home in 2000 as a Nursing Supervisor 2. Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing was always her first love, but she enjoyed all types of nursing.

After graduation from Iowa Methodist, on February 10th, 1963, she married her high school sweetheart, Richard Lange. They grew up on farms just 4 miles apart and their grandparents were best friends. She often said that the best decision she made in her life was marrying the fellow who took her to the Prom. They were parents of two sons, Shawn Howard, born in 1964 and Damon Matthew, born in 1966. As a young family they started their married life in Ft. Dodge, Iowa where Rich was employed at Iowa Beef Packing Plant and Arlene worked at the local hospital. In 1976 they moved to Marshalltown when Rich was accepted as a Federal Meat Inspector with the USDA. Arlene was able to begin employment at the Iowa Veterans Home.

Arlene loved being the mother of her sons. The Lange home was usually filled with young boys and later young men. It was the gathering place for many and filled with many happy memories. Much of their interests revolved around activities and interests of their sons. Camping on annual family vacations led to lifelong interests of the entire family and continue even today.

Arlene was a very social person and loved people. She never met a stranger, valued and cherished her friends. She joined several organizations where she usually held leadership positions. Memberships included AAUW, PW, Sarah Circle, 20th Century club, AAUW Book club.

After retirement in 2000, the Langes began a new adventure. Buying a 5th Wheel RV to replace the years of tent camping, they became Winter Texans and spent several months in the winter at Lakewood RV Park in Harlingen, Texas. Here they learned to Square Dance, Country Dance, and developed a vast new group of wonderful friends. This led to other activities at home where they continued to Square dance, being part of camping groups and many card club groups.

Retirement years were truly golden years. They were able to travel and particularly enjoyed numerous RV caravans throughout the US and Canada.

Arlene had a strong faith, and she was quick to say she was a lifelong Presbyterian. Church was always a central part of her life. As a young child, she always attended church with her parents and Sunday school youth groups, and church camps were a regular part of her life. The Christian standard her parents demonstrated each day influenced her each day of her entire life. She was baptized in the First Presbyterian church in Odebolt as an infant. Memberships were in Presbyterian churches in Odebolt, Ft. Dodge and Marshalltown.

As her sons left home and married and the family grew, grandchildren and daughters-in-law became a new source of joy.

Those blessed to be a part of her life include her loving husband, Richard Lange; her children: Shawn (Mary) Lange of Durango, CO, and Damon (Joy Jackson) Lange of Salida, CO; her grandchildren: Rachel (Kevin) Elo of Redding, CA, Emily Lange of Detroit, MI, Nathan Lange of Milwaukee, WI, Micaela (Brendan) Nicol of Phoenix, AZ and Kiera Huss of Carthage, TX; seven great-grandchildren; her brother James (Jessie) Howard.

Arlene Lange was preceded in death by her husband Richard, parents Harry and Pearl Howard, her father-in-law and mother-in-law Alvin and Catherine Lange, her infant grandson Spencer Lange.