William Allen Rangnow

William Allen Rangnow, 96, of Orleans, died peacefully January 14, 2020. He was a grateful resident of The Terraces for 12 years. Born to Adolph and Carolyn (Hasenfus) Rangnow April 21, 1923 in Philadelphia, Bill was predeceased by two sisters, Grace Gray and Claire Rangnow. He married Marion Fulton in 1950 and became the proud father of five children. He is predeceased by Marion and survived by his children and their families: Jennifer Rangnow; Pamela Hayes and spouse John; William Rangnow, Jr.; Gregory Rangnow and spouse Jennifer; and Tracy Voca and spouse Bogdan. Bill was grandfather to Dannon Flynn; Natalie Glynn and spouse Patrick; Stuart Hayes and spouse Jessie; Alexander, Kelsey, and Brody Rangnow; Isabel and Adrian Voca; and great grandfather to Kailash Flynn, Scarlett Glynn and Harper and Rhydian Hayes. Bill was in a loving relationship with Linda Smith for the past 19 years.

Bill graduated from Newton High School in 1941 where he was awarded the superlative “friendliest”. He enlisted with the Navy in May 1943 and served as a Navy Air Cadet piloting the PB4Y-2 for nearly three years. In 1947, Bill was awarded a B.S. in Business and Engineering Administration from M.I.T. which launched a 35-year career selling packaging machinery, most notably with R.A. Jones, Inc. His career led the family from Massachusetts to Chicago, Minneapolis, Atlanta and New Jersey. Upon retirement, Bill and Marion moved to East Orleans where he became a dedicated volunteer with Snow Library, Lower Cape Outreach Council (LCOC), Capabilities, the Homeless Prevention Council, Meals on Wheels, FISH and the Cape & Islands AIDS Support Group. He was an active member of the Orleans United Methodist Church.

A memorial service will be held at the Orleans UMC, 73 Main St., February 1st at 11:00 a.m., followed by a gathering at The Terraces to which all are invited. We look forward to celebrating a man known for his creativity, sense of humor, gregarious nature, and glass-half-full outlook even when the Red Sox and Patriots were losing. In honor of Bill’s life, please consider making a donation to the Orleans Convalescent Home Education Fund (60 Daley Ter., Orleans, MA 02653) or to LCOC (POB 665, Orleans, MA 02653).