Michael Joe Lange, 79, of Lubbock, Texas passed away on August 7th, 2026. Michael was born in Fredericksburg, Texas, on December 18th, 1946 to his parents Louis and Florence Lange. He was 1 of 9 children living on a ranch in Harper, TX. He graduated from Harper High School in 1964. After high school, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves. He met Betty Jo Carpenter in San Antonio, Texas. They got married in Boerne, Texas on December 14th, 1968. After getting married, they moved to the Arlington area, where he began working in heating and air conditioning. In February of 1972, they were blessed with their only child, Haley Jo. The family then moved to Georgetown, TX in 1984. Shortly after moving to Georgetown, the family joined the Texas Road Knights, an antique car club, where they attended car shows and drag races in their green 1932 Nash. Michael would spend his free time restoring old cars. After Haley graduated, Michael and Betty moved back to Arlington, TX, where Michael began working for Golden Mechanical. He worked there for 33 years and retired in 2023.
Michael was a hardworking man who dedicated his time to the things and people he loved. At work, he was known as an exceptional leader who inspired the people around him. Everyone who met him described him as friendly, kind-hearted, and loyal. He would get to know every person he met on a personal level and would remember little things about them. He was also very curious; always asking questions and taking his time before jumping into projects. He was a handyman with the skills to fix anything and everything with nothing but some duct tape and screws. One of his favorite activities was to go to the lake. He enjoyed fishing, riding the jetski, and spending time with friends and family. Later in life, he enjoyed playing on his computer, doing puzzles, playing sudoku, and listening to comedy podcasts. He spent a lot of time outside, feeding and watching the birds, taking care of his lawn, and just enjoying the sun. He also had a love for animals, as over the years he owned and spoiled many cats. His two current cats, Weasel and Coyote, got to enjoy their time being fed many treats and receiving lots of love.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jo Lange (Carpenter), his son-in-law, Travis Anderson, his parents, Louis and Florence Lange, his siblings: Raymond, Alfons, Frank, Alois Lange, and Annie Fritz.
He is survived by his daughter, Haley Jo Anderson, his two granddaughters, Kylie and Makayla Anderson, his sisters: Bernice Jenschke, Katherine/Ray Alejandro, and his brother Anthony Lange.
