Richard E. Lange

Former Longmont City Councilman, Richard E. “Dick” Lange passed away on June 19, 2017. Dick was born in Cleveland, Ohio on November 20, 1929. In the 1930’s he and his family resided in Palm Springs, California in the winter and Sugar Hill, New Hampshire during the rest of the year. During World War II, his family resided in New Hampshire and he graduated from Dow Academy in Franconia, NH in the spring of 1948. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Air Force and was assigned to the Ground and Aerial Photographic School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, CO where he was an instructor in Aerial Photography and later worked in the Administration Office of the school. He volunteered for an assignment to Alaska and finished out his Air Force career in the Adjutant Generals Office at the Headquarters of the Alaskan Air Command located at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage.

Upon his discharge from the Air Force in 1952, he returned to Denver and found employment at Samsonite Corporation where he remained as a supervisor on an assembly line, manufacturing luggage until he entered the University of Colorado in the fall of 1957. Upon graduation from the University in 1960 with a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Investments, he accepted employment with the Hartford Insurance Group in Denver, where for the next 11 years he worked as a supervising casualty underwriter and a marketing representative. In the summer of 1971, he left the Hartford and moved to Longmont and formed the Lange Insurance Agency in Boulder. In 1979, he was invited by his long-time friend and mentor, Wayne Jurgens, to become a partner in Longmont Realty and Insurance Company. Lange Insurance Agency was merged into LR&I and he remained a partner until he sold his partnership interest in 1991. His association with LR&I continued until its sale in the spring of 2000.

In addition to representing the citizens of Longmont on its City Council, he served as a member of the Longmont Civil Service Commission for 5.5 years, as a member of the Longmont Downtown Development Authority, as a member of the Longmont Long Range Planning Commission and as a member of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce and served on its Executive Committee.

He was also affiliated with the Longmont Insurers Association, Boulder County Insurers Association, Independent Insurance Agents of America, Professional Insurance Association of Colorado, Sertoma Club of Longmont and the Moose Lodge.

For many years, Dick joined his friends and associates in a coffee clutch at Janie’s, the Java Stop and Longmont United Hospital. Here he and his friends discussed the local politics of Longmont and the constantly evolving events of the local, national, and world scene. As Dick once indicated, many complex issues were put on the table but very few arrived at a conclusion. These coffee clutches brought together many diverse political views that cemented many long term friendships.

Dick was preceded in death by his brother Phillip Lange, sister-in-law Rusty Lange of Laconia, NH, his parents Elmer and Julia Lange and brother Bob Ralph, all of Palm Springs, CA.

He is survived by his daughters Jennifer Baumgardner (Kelly) of Frederick, CO, Marla Lange-Anderson (Hugh) of Jonesborough, TN, his grandchildren Bailey and Jackson Baumgardner and Nathan Anderson, a brother Joe Lange (Barbara), sister-in-law Martha (Bob) Ralph of Palm Springs, CA and a nephew Paul Lange of Laconia, NH.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Howe Mortuary. Dick has requested a private memorial service for immediate family and close friends. In memory of Dick and his family, memorial gifts may be given to an organization of their choice.