Alfred Von Fange

Alfred W. Von Fange passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2009, at Camelot Nursing and Rehab Center at the age of 94 years. He was born on October 22, 1914, at Beverly, KS, son of the late William Herman and Mary Elizabeth (Witte) Von Fange. Mr. Von Fange was an active life-long member of the Lutheran Church. He was baptized Nov. 1, 1914, at St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Lincoln, KS, and was confirmed March 24, 1929, at Atchison, KS. He studied at Concordia Teachers College at Seward, NE, becoming a Lutheran elementary teacher in 1935, and then attended Valparaiso University, where he earned a B.A. in 1939. On July 29, 1939, he was united in marriage to Maria Schroeder. The couple was blessed with three children. Maria died November 10, 1967, as the result of an automobile accident. On June 7, 1970, he married Irene Johnson of Geneseo, IL, at the First Lutheran Church there with the Rev. Phillip Larson conducting the ceremony. The couple made their home in Farmington. With a love of gardening, Al and Irene won awards for their beautiful flower gardens until her death on August 19, 1998. In 2000 he met Clara Raines, a retired teacher. Together they won numerous Senior Olympic medals. There were a team and playful inseparable best friends until her death on February 23, 2008. Mr. Von Fange taught 16 years at Lutheran parochial schools, eight in Wauwatosa, WI, and eight at St. Paul in Farmington, where he also served as choir director, youth director of the Walther League, and principal for several years. He later worked at Farmingtons Ben Franklin Store for 17 years before accepting a job as an elementary school teacher for 14 years with the Farmington RVII school district. Before his retirement, he had taught school for a total of 30 years. He was a member of the 55+ Club where he served as song leader for a number of years. Mr. Von Fange was also an active member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Farmington, where he was a member of the Voters Assembly and church secretary and organist for a number of years. He was also an elder, and a member of the Mens Club and the church choir. He also raised funds at St. Pauls for the Missouri Synod radio station, KFUO, in St. Louis. Survivors include two daughters, Sharon (Mrs. Kenneth) Pike of Columbia, and Kristine (Mrs. William) Ryan of Pevely, a son, Charles of Wilmington, DE, a step-daughter, Marilyn (Mrs. Ronnie) Dean, a brother, Wilbur Von Fange of Belleville, IL; Claras daughters, Anne (Mrs. Kimbal) Strangmeier and Linda (Mrs. Bruce) Nash, and a son Sammie Raines and his wife Frances. There are four surviving grandchildren, Marie Keath and her husband Steve Jenkins, Brande (Mrs. Ben) Hicks, William Scott and wife Kimberly Ryan, and Emily Von Fange; a step-grandson, Jeff Dean; four great-grandchildren, Zachary and Emma Jenkins, Jacob and Jacquelyn Hicks; and a step-great-grandson, Steven Dean. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Ruth Von Fange and Mrs. Martha Schroeder Taylor; Claras sister Lucy Fowler, and numerous nieces and nephews. He will be missed by many friends, especially those at his church and at the Senior Center. The family will receive friends at Cozean Memorial Chapel from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2009. Visitation will resume on Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, with a funeral service following at 11 a.m. at the church with the Rev. James King and Rev. David Oddi officiating. Burial will be at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery. Memorial gifts have been designated to St. Pauls Building Fund or the American Cancer Society. Video tribute, obituary and online condolences at: cozeanfuenralhome.com.