Ada Anna Lange

Ada Lange shared her love, faith and service until her life was spent completely February 17, 2016. She was a friend to all, including her ever-expanding family, a wide circle of friends, and the congregations of St. John Lutheran Church in Lansing, Illinois, and Zion Lutheran Church in Holland, Michigan.

Born at home in Lansing, Illinois, she married Bob, her lifelong soulmate, on October 2, 1943. They were true partners in life for 71 years until Bob died in 2014.

From the 1940s through the 1980s, Ada managed the family household and raised six children. She was a master juggler of time and resources: keeping house, encouraging the academics and fellowship of her children, providing support for the congregation and students of St. John Lutheran Church and School, and starting a braille production center at St. John’s for Lutheran Braille Workers.

As her children grew and expanded their horizons, she expanded her service. Ada and Bob moved to Holland, Michigan, where she applied years of sewing expertise to quilting and helped to spearhead the Zion Lutheran quilters, who donated hundreds if not more than a thousand quilts to Lutheran World Relief.

Possessive of the kitchen in her house, she nevertheless shared its bounty with everyone. She believed in developing her attributes—her personal gifts—to make the world a better place. Her whole life was a shared experience of warmth, steadfast friendship, laughter, and, most of all, love.

It was her strong faith in God’s giving that made her give of herself and enable others to have faith in themselves.

The news of her passing has produced many testimonials to her engaging spirit, which can be distilled to these words: vibrant, serving, and caring—the ultimate mother.

Ada is preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her daughter, Doris Scarlett; her sisters, Wilma Jochim and Irma Wells; and her brother, John Reich, Jr. Surviving to remember and cherish Ada’s memory are her brother, Alfred (Ursel) Reich; daughters, Edie Lange, June Lange, and Lois (Kelly) Sanders; sons, Robert (Barb) Lange and William (Jackie) Lange; son-in-law Tom A. (Cindy) Scarlett; grandchildren, Tammy (John) Wenzel and Tom T. (Chrisy) Scarlett; Andrea and Holly Thomann; Blake (Stephanie) Sanders and Dylan Sanders; Alexandra, Johnny and Sophie Lange; and great-grandchildren, Johnny and Lizzie Wenzel; Tommy and Catie Scarlett; and Emrey Sanders.

A memorial service for Ada will be held Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 77 32 Street, Holland, MI 49423. The family will receive friends for a visitation one hour prior at the church. Those wishing to make contributions in Ada’s memory may do so to: Zion Lutheran Church, 77 32d Street, Holland, MI 49423; St. John Lutheran Church, 18100 Wentworth Avenue, Lansing, Illinois, 60438; or Lutheran World Relief, 700 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Ave., East Lansing, MI. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.