Irma Mae Lange

Heaven gained a special angel, Tuesday, July 24, with the death of Irma Mae Lange, 86, of N. Ft. Myers, Florida, formerly of the LeGrand-Marshalltown area. Funeral services and a celebration of life will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 30th at St. Henrys Catholic Church with Father Don Czapla officiating.Burial will be at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Friends may call at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home at Marshalltown from 5-7:00 p.m. on Sunday eveningwith her family present at that time. A vigil service will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. Ph. 641-844-1234. She was born in Chelsea, Iowa on May 1, 1921 to Edward and Lottie Vratisovsky. She graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1939 and married Leonard Lange in September 1939. Together they had one daughter Delores (Dee) Van De Walle of N. Ft. Myers, Florida and the LeGrand area. She is also survived by two grandchildren: Scott Van De Walle of Marshalltown and Dawn (Aaron) Neal of Naples, Florida, three great grandchildren: Derek, Travis and Jared Van De Walle all of Garwin. Irma was Leonards helpmate throughout their married life. She first helped in the trucking operation, then ran a gas station during the day while he was trucking, and finally assisted on the farms going for parts when needed and preparing meals to be delivered to him in the fields. She learned to saddle and ride her Appaloosa mare called Pots at the age of 50.She and Pots helped Leonard with the cow-calf operation; giving shots and putting ear tags in the new calves and helping to round them up, load and transfer them to another field. They also enjoyed many hours pleasure riding their horses on the home farm. Leonard and Irma spend 6 months a year in Florida for 14 years, then Irma became a full time resident in 1998 only returning to Iowa for occasional summer visits. She was a member of the Lady Pirates Bowling team for 17 years and on three championship teams. At age 80 she bowled a 222 and 567 series. She volunteered at Lee Memorial Hospital in the Nuclear Medicine Department for two and al half years. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and St. Henrys Catholic Church. She will be remembered as a most loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her friends will remember her for her caring ways, as someone who was always there for moral support, a ride to an appointment, and always ready to go out for lunch or just get together socially. Her social calendar was always full. She will also be remembered for the people she touched, the lives she enhanced and the warmth she so eagerly and easily gave to others. She was a special gift to those who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents and then her husband in 1992. As per her wishes, the family requests no flowers, donations can be made to Hospice. Irma Lange, 85, of North Ft. Myers, FL., formerly of LeGrand, died early Tuesday morning, July 24th, at her home while in care of her daughter, her family and the Hope Hospice. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Henry's Catholic Church in Marshalltown. She will be laid to rest in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Friedns may call at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home from 5-7:00 p.m. on Sunday with a 7:00 p.m. vigil service. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Irma and her family. ph 641-844-1234.